Knicks confident they’ll get free agency meeting with Kawhi Leonard
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Knicks do not have all their eggs in one basket as they prepare for free agency.
According to NBA sources, Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry expect to get a meeting with Raptors star Kawhi Leonard and at least have a puncher’s chance despite all the Kevin Durant hoopla.
With reports Kyrie Irving is eyeing the Lakers and Nets more strongly than the Knicks, a domino effect could take place in which KD may not want to come alone. Durant does not know Leonard well and they play the same position.
That tandem may be possible because Leonard’s max contract would be similar to Irving’s because of their identical service time. The Knicks still feel they can be in the ballgame for Leonard, who is two wins away from winning his second NBA championship and equaling Durant’s ring total.
Leonard, though he looks to be playing at less than 100 percent after aggravating his knee in the Eastern Conference Finals against Milwaukee, could be an even better fit than Durant, who has yet to play the past month because of a partially torn calf muscle.
The do-everything forward racked up 30 points in the Raptors’ Game 3 victory Wednesday and did not even have a typical monster game, grinding away for 21 points in the second half.
Leonard’s even-keel demeanor may suit the New York market. Durant is known to be very sensitive to media criticism, while Leonard just goes about his business with the same coolness off the court as on.
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While Durant has plenty of tie-ins to the Knicks, Leonard does, too, with his uncle Dennis Robertson hailing from northern New Jersey. Leonard actually lived in northern Jersey part of last season while rehabbing. Durant, who is from Washington, DC, has never lived in the New York area.
Leonard also has a San Diego connection with Knicks coach David Fizdale. Leonard attended San Diego State and Fizdale the University of San Diego. The Knicks were extremely high on Leonard entering the 2011 draft but he was no longer available when they picked at No. 17. He was scooped up at 15 and the Knicks selected Iman Shumpert.
Leonard spoke to his even-keel demeanor earlier during the Finals, saying past teammates such as Tim Duncan and Tony Parker instilled in him the importance of not getting too high or too low in this game.
“Learning from the great teammates that I had then, from Tim [Duncan], Tony [Parker] and Manu [Ginobili],’’ Leonard said. “Seeing how they approached the game — every game, win, lose, missing a shot, game-winning shot, making a bad mistake. I just try to take my experiences and just keep moving forward and just have fun. Win, lose or draw, I’m still going to be living, still got a family. This is all for fun.
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“It’s just the way I play. Until we win the game or it’s all done, then I’ll show some emotion. But I want to stay even-keeled while I’m going through it.”
Leonard admits nobody bothers to trash-talk him because he pays them no mind.
“It really doesn’t happen too much,’’ he said. “I really can’t say it happens.”
Leonard figured to be one-and-done with Toronto after an offseason trade from San Antonio, but this championship run could alter his plans, especially as he grows to admire Raptors first-year coach Nick Nurse. The Clippers have been pegged as favorites in the Leonard sweepstakes because of his Southern California roots.
Leonard, who has played for one of the greats in Gregg Popovich, complimented Nurse this week, saying, “He’s done a great job. We’re in the Finals his first year. I mean, what else could you expect or want from a first-year coach other than a championship? I think he handled himself well.’’
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