While the storylines from the NBA Finals should be centered around the games that are being played, that is not the case in today’s NBA. Since the beginning of the season, the storylines have centered around where this offseason’s crop of star-studded free agents might land next.
As the season is slowly coming to a close and June 30 fast approaching, the rumors are growing exponentially.
Throughout the year, Kevin Durant has seemed to be a sure thing to sign with the New York Knicks alongside Kyrie Irving. However, with rumors swirling that Irving has chosen the Nets as his lead option — with Durant reported to be strongly considering the Nets (as well as the Clippers) — it makes sense that New York is worried.
Now, it appears they are attempting to take matters into their own hands. Marc Berman of the New York Post tweeted that Knicks assistant coach Keith Smart will be attending Game 4 of the Finals with current Knicks players Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier and Kadeem Allen.
Durant has a relationship with Trier dating back to Trier’s high school days in Oklahoma City, and Knox has said on the record that he grew up idolizing Durant.
Despite the assumptions of what the appearance of the Knicks players may mean, there is a chance too much is being read into the situation, and that Smart is just bringing some of his young players to experience high-level basketball. We will probably never know how much (if any) of an impact this incident will have on Durant’s eventual decision. But it is another subplot in Golden State’s whirlwind of a 2018-19 season.
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