The New York Knicks have enough salary cap space to sign two players to max contracts, and there's only a small list of stars the team would considering offering that kind of money in NBA free agency.
One of those players is Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The Knicks only have Durant, Irving and Leonard as guys they would be willing to give the max. Point guard Kemba Walker would likely be a max option, but only if he’s coming with Durant and the Warriors star requests the signing.
Irving is from nearby New Jersey and has long been rumored as a free-agent target for the Knicks this summer, but most of the recent reports involving the All-Star's future link him to the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets also are the betting favorites to land Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant.
If the Knicks strike out on Irving and Walker in free agency, maybe they would turn to another Boston point guard: Terry Rozier.
Rozier is a restricted free agent this offseason and wouldn't cost as much as Irving or Walker. If the Celtics signed Walker -- they reportedly are "emerging as stealth suitors" for the Charlotte Hornets star -- perhaps the Knicks would consider an offer sheet for Rozier. Rozier told ESPN last month he could see himself playing for the Knicks, and NBC Sports Boston's Celtics insider A. Sherrod Blakely reported in May that New York has interest in Rozier.
The Knicks were supposed to have a great summer of free-agent signings, and while that still could happen, the future doesn't look promising at Madison Square Garden.
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