The Knicks' free agency strategy has changed quickly.
New York is now focusing on adding “depth and younger players” after missing out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, according to ESPN. Both stars reportedly agreed to contracts with the Knicks' crosstown rivals, the Nets, 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
The Knicks have cap space to sign multiple top-level players and had been pursuing both Irving and Durant but missed out on both of them early in free agency. They’ve also been linked to Kawhi Leonard, however, it appears he’s likely to land with the Nets, Lakers or Clippers.
“Our plan wasn’t to create $70 million in room to go after free agents this summer,” Knicks president Steve Mills told the Undefeated earlier this week. “Our plan was to organically build this team through teamwork, drafting well, getting high-character guys that want to compete. The (salary cap) space was a byproduct of that. If the right guys are there for us, great, because we still have all the young pieces and draft picks to move forward.
“And if they’re not, we’re going to keep building our plan, drafting our guys, playing well and potentially being trade partners. We feel really good about where we are going.”
New York reportedly has interest in forward Julius Randle and Bobby Portis. It also reportedly could look to add Reggie Bullock, George Hill and Wayne Ellington.
The Knicks finished 2018-19 with a 17-65 record and missed the playoffs for a sixth straight season. They selected former Duke star RJ Barrett with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft earlier this month.
