The threat of the New York Knicks persuading Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant to leave the Dubs this summer in free agency has never felt more real to the Warriors themselves, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.

Durant is widely expected to decline his 2019-20 player option with Golden State in the summer to become an unrestricted free agent, and some around the league believe KD is going to sign with the Knicks since his business manager has strong New York ties.

I can also pass along that the threat of the Knicks’ persuading Durant to leave one of the most dominant teams in league history has never felt more real to the Warriors themselves.

By trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks now have cap space in the summer to sign two max free agents.

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The prevailing thought is New York is going to go hard after Kevin Durant and Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving, who will also become a free agent in the offseason should he decline his 2019-20 player option.

Durant and the Warriors have won two straight championships since the former MVP signed with Golden State back in 2016. The Dubs are probably going to win their straight ring this season.

So, why would KD want to leave the Warriors and sign with the lowly Knicks? Maybe because he wants to embark on a new challenge? Who knows.

What we do know is that Durant has been linked to joining the Knicks for quite some time now, and even the Warriors are starting to get worried about KD leaving.