ABC/ Screencap
Earlier today we learned that Kevin Durant was going to join Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan in Brooklyn to play for the Nets.
Sources: Durant will sign a 4-year, $164M deal with the Nets; Irving will sign 4-years, $141M.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Brooklyn is making a clean sweep tonight: Brooklyn will sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
After the news broke the Knicks were immediately mocked by the Internet for striking out on both Durant and Irving.
KD TO BROOKLYN
Knicks fans: pic.twitter.com/C6nRjaTLCz
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 30, 2019
RIP to the Kyrie-KD-Zion Knicks team 2019-2019 #LOLKNICKS pic.twitter.com/ss2uS8JR1x
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 30, 2019
Apparently, the Knicks weren’t even planning to offer Kevin Durant the max because owner James Dolan had concerns about Durant’s Achilles injury.
The Knicks and owner Jim Dolan were not prepared to offer Kevin Durant a full max contract due to concerns over his recovery from the Achilles injury, league sources tell me and @wojespn. Knicks officials are in Los Angeles tonight, meeting with free agents such as Julius Randle.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 30, 2019
It also appears that the team didn’t even meet with Durant on Sunday.
As for the Knicks, they’re in Los Angeles tonight for free agent meetings tonight. If they talked to KD tonight, it was only going to be via conference call. They’ve pivoted to focusing on depth and younger players
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 30, 2019
Let’s just say Knicks fans weren’t happy with Dolan for not even offering KD the max.
https://twitter.com/smooothoperata_/status/1145474341309751298
And Dolan strikes again. I amend my previous comment. You should not be able to own an NBA if you aren’t willing to pay the luxury tax and the NBA should be able to strip your team from you in situations of gross incompetence ie Dolan, Jordan, Sarver. https://t.co/AvHVVnb9N1
— Ben McCoy (@BenMcCoy08) June 30, 2019
We need regulations in place to prevent future children from rooting for teams owned by both the Wilpons and Jim Dolan @SenSchumer @BilldeBlasio
— Evan (@EFried8) June 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/DreO_O/status/1145474322229866496
Fans to Dolan after reading that latest news about not even trying to offer a deal to Durant pic.twitter.com/5KX2oSS9vu
— CHUCK(Y ) (@cdulaney85) June 30, 2019