Yahoo Sports insider Chris Haynes believes the New York Knicks have the “upper hand” on the Brooklyn Nets to sign Kevin Durant this summer.
Durant is currently in New York with his brother. The Nets are widely expected to land All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving once free agency begins on June 30. Irving is said to be in the ear of Durant trying to get the two-time Finals MVP to join him in Brooklyn.
Haynes isn't reporting anything, but believes the Knicks are the frontrunners to sign Durant, who is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season recovering from the right Achilles tear he suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors:




"I think it would be more so the Knicks than Brooklyn… I ultimately think the Knicks have the upper hand."@ChrisBHaynes looks at the Kevin Durant free agency sweepstakes pic.twitter.com/Q0a2fXj7ql
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 27, 2019
Durant's business partner, Rich Kleiman, is a New York native and lifelong Knicks fan. There has been talk around the league the Knicks might offer Kleiman a front-office job if Durant signs with them and that KD could host his own show on the MSG network.
The Knicks have cap space to sign two max contract players this summer. If Irving is set on going to the Nets, would Durant really want to play for New York as the only star there? Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard are also free agents. Maybe KD will try to recruit one of those All-Stars to the Knicks.