New team jumps Knicks as betting favorites to sign free agent Kevin Durant

The Knicks had been the favorites or co-favorites for weeks

6/24/2019, 6:00 PM
May 6, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game four of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Troy Taormina
May 6, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game four of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Troy Taormina

The Knicks' betting odds to sign free agent Kevin Durant have taken a dip, according to Caesars, with New York now the third-likeliest landing spot for the star. The favorite? That would be the Brooklyn Nets.

Here are the new odds that were released Monday by Caesars:

Nets: -125

Warriors: +200

Knicks: +500

Clippers: +800

As far as the new odds go, let's just say that it didn't seem like a coincidence that they were released just hours after a report by Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher that said Durant had recently met twice with fellow free agent Kyrie Irving about joining the same team.

 

Irving has been linked to the Nets, so it's easy to put two and two together here when wondering about the new odds. 

During last Monday's Odds Shark update, the Knicks' betting odds dropped a bit as they became co-favorites with the Warriors.

The same sports book listed the Knicks as favorites at -175 odds the Warriors at +210 two weeks ago.  

Durant, who is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season, has a $31.5 million player option for next season, but would reportedly would only opt in as a "last resort."

Based on the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, the Warriors can offer Durant a five-year, $221 million max deal, while any other team, including the Knicks, can offer a four-year, $164 million max deal.

Sources told SNY's Ian Begley earlier this month that even though Durant's ruptured Achilles would keep him out for most, if not all, of the first year of a contract, some people in the Knicks organization would still feel comfortable adding the two-time Finals MVP in free agency.

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