Kevin Durant’s free agency has loomed over the Golden State Warriors all season, and that conversation is only getting louder as the Warriors move through the playoffs without him.
There’s long been speculation that Durant would head east and try to build a superteam of his own with the New York Knicks. As of now, the betting markets agree with that hypothesis.
According to MyBookie, Durant is a -150 favorite to play his home games at Madison Square Garden next season. Sticking with the Warriors for another title run is the second-favorite, at +100.
Here’s a full list of the odds provided by MyBookie:
- New York Knicks (-150)
- Golden State Warriors (+100)
- The Field (+300)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+400)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+400)
- Brooklyn Nets (+400)
Given how the Warriors have played while Durant is sidelined with a calf injury, a return to Golden State seems unlikely. The Warriors seem to be proving the narrative that they don’t need Durant on their team — they just need him to not be on the opposing team.
Durant clapped back at NBA insider Chris Broussard earlier this week, so we know he’s aware of this narrative.
The Knicks make the most sense for a variety of reasons. For one, they represent the NBA’s most attractive market and are starved for a winner. If Durant won a title with the Knicks and brought playoff basketball back to MSG, he’d instantly become a legend.
Durant does have other connections to the organization. His longtime business partner, Rich Kleiman, is a native New Yorker and a Knicks fan. He’s also close with Steve Nash, who is the godfather of R.J. Barrett — who the Knicks will likely add with the No. 3 overall pick in next month’s NBA draft.
(New York fans were hoping to land the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, but got the No. 3 pick instead at last week’s draft lottery.)
The Knicks also have enough cap space to add Durant and one other max-level player — most likely Kyrie Irving or Bronx-native Kemba Walker. They also might have the assets to acquire all-star forward Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans.
Durant will have a nine-day break to continue rehab on his injured calf before the Warriors begin the NBA Finals on the road on May 30.
NBA free agency opens up on July 1.