The New York Knicks and owner James Dolan were unwilling to offer Kevin Durant a maximum contract in free agency due to injury concerns, league sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Durant is largely expected to miss the 2019-20 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in Game 5 of The Finals. If Durant does miss an entire year, he will be 32 when the 2020-21 season tips off.
Durant had been heavily linked to the Knicks in the months leading up to free agency, but confirmed Sunday evening he plans to sign with the crosstown Brooklyn Nets, reportedly earning $164 million over four years.
After missing out on the former MVP, the Knicks pivoted to Julius Randle, inking the free-agent forward to a three-year, $63-million deal, his agent told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Knicks president Steve Mills issued a statement Sunday night, admitting that some fans might be disappointed.
Statement from Knicks president Steve Mills: pic.twitter.com/2GnBHHmvT6
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2019
