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The Warriors 'dynasty has come to the Knicks' expense.
Don Nelson got the last laugh at the Knicks by taking Stephen Curry with the seventh pick in 2009 – one spot ahead of Mike D'Antoni's Knicks. The Curry-to-the-Knicks furor was the electric point guard of Davidson on the radar lottery.
In 2014, Warriors' ownership got lucky to get knocked out in the first round by the Clippers. Had Golden State advanced the second round, Kerr would be the Knicks head coach, cementing what had been a verbal agreement with Phil Jackson.
The Warriors came after Kerr and asked for permission to back out of the verbal agreement. The Warriors may have gone to greatness with Mark Jackson, fired after the first-round loss.
Would the Knicks have been better off with Kerr than devotee triangle rookie Derek Fisher? That's like asking if Napa Valley has any good places for red wine.
There is only one way for the Knicks to get back to the Warriors – Kevin Durant from Northern California this summer.
The Knicks are a mess now on the court. It would have been great for a Friday night, a healthy visit to the Garden, a healthy Kristaps Porzingis draining 3s and blocking shots.
Kevin Knox impersonates a young KD – draining 3s, gathering rebounds, speeding upcourt and to the hole with effortless grace.
Durant is Knox's idol. As a Kentucky coach assistant trainer Kenny Payne told The Post in June, he sat Knox down on his first days at Kentucky and handed him a Durant mounting to watch. Knox did – over and over. Porzingis is out indefinitely. Knox is at least another week or two away from a return.
"The Great Knicks Again." Kerr joked Warriors maven PR Raymond Ridder cracked the billboard looked more like a homage to ex-Knick, ex-Warrior Clarence Weatherspoon.
But there's reason to believe KD is going to take the Knicks seriously – as opposed to last time when Phil Jackson could not get a sit-down in East Hampton.
Rich Kleiman, growing up to a diehard Knicks fan, was expected at the Garden for Friday's Warriors-Knicks matchup. Kleiman, who handled all the Hampton arrangements, is Durant's manager / agent.
Kleiman and the New York and San Francisco entitled "Thirty Five Ventures," which handles their projects under one umbrella. Knicks president Steve Mills and Kleiman go back. At least the Knicks will be kept in the loop.
For a long time, Wayne Pratt is a longtime Knicks fan. That meant nothing last time, but maybe it means something, after Durant won his two rings. LeBron James once called the Garden his favorite, but cold-weather New York is clearly not his favorite city to live in.
So take Durant's Garden remarks Thursday night with a grain of salt if you wish, but this city is special to the native Maryland-area.
"It's like a playground with walls," Durant said. "You walk outside and you're right on the street. It feels like you're playing at Rucker Park, just indoors. And that energy, I remember my first game as a rookie. I can remember I played pretty well. I had 30 that night. My family came up, and we stayed after the game, so we celebrated a little bit. But that energy – it's just pure, pure love for the game at the Garden. "
During the 2011 lockout, I was at Rucker Park that August night Durant dropped 66 points. Mobbed fans during Harlem at game's end. He tweeted:
"No lie, my life at Rucker park..wow! I love NY … Harlem waddup. "
During an opt-out in his contract for a purpose. GM Bob Myers may one day regret his championship-parade how, when he implied Curry's status was more "earned" than Durant's because he joined "in the way-before days."
The Knicks did not get Curry in 2009 and owner James Dolan believed the media avalanche surrounding Antoni's love affair with Curry prompted formally fired Knicks coach Nelson to switch gears.
It's time for this summer payday, KD style. Ten years later.
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