The Knicks may not be on Kevin Durant's list of teams to meet with come July 1, but that hasn't stopped the New York club from being confident in landing a meeting with the 6-foot-9 star.
Durant is set for encounters with the Thunder, Warriors and Spurs sometime after the free agency period begins on Friday, while the Clippers, Celtics and Heat are also expected to council with him as well.
New York, armed with $40 million of cap space heading into the season, hasn't yet landed a meeting with Durant, according to a tweet by ESPN's Ian Begley:
No meeting has been scheduled - or agreed to - between the Knicks & Kevin Durant, sources say. More: https://t.co/2LCv23S1Qj
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 27, 2016
While the Knicks have no preliminary plans to get together with the 2014 MVP and seven-time All-Star, the club remains optimistic that the two sides will meet this offseason, according to The Score.
The prevailing speculation regarding Durant's mindset entering free agency is that he'd either stay in Oklahoma City or sign with another Western Conference power house such as Golden State or San Antonio.
Durant wants to go to a contender, so the Knicks might have some trouble convincing him to come aboard, despite his close ties to Carmelo Anthony.
New York has nevertheless remained busy already this offseason, trading center Robin Lopez and guards Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant to the Bulls in exchange for point guard Derrick Rose, guard Justin Holiday and a 2017 draft pick last week.
It was believed the move for Rose could be a selling point for the Knicks in their potential negotiations with Durant as the club can try to convince him of joining stars the caliber of Anthony, Rose and Kristaps Porzingis at the mecca of Madison Square Garden to help turn the franchise around.
Durant, 27, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Thunder after being drafted in the second round by them back when they were the SuperSonics based in Seattle. Durant averaged 28.4 points per game throughout the playoffs and has averaged 27.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game throughout his career.
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