Kevin Durant To New York Knicks? Gotham City To Pursue The Reigning MVP In 2016! Will OKC Win A Title Before They Pry Him Away?

Since LeBron James has returned home to Cleveland and seems to have gathered enough subjects to build a new kingdom, the top target for ambitious teams is now the reigning Most Valuable Player, Kevin Durant.

Of course, the New York Knicks will not allow themselves to be left out of the conversation especially when they will finally have their long-awaited cap space.

There are already not-so-subtle signs that Madison Square Garden wants KD on the marquee. Basketball Insiders notes:

"By the time 2016 rolls around, there could be more than a third of the league that has cleared enough cap space to make a run at Durant. Judging by their recent hiring of former Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Brian Keefe, another coach very close to Durant, it looks like the New York Knicks could be another team lining up to make a run at Durant. They're poised to have plenty of cap room, and potentially two stars as they already have Carmelo Anthony locked up to a long-term deal and the space to sign another star this offseason. With the cap poised to increase significantly by 2016 and the Zen Master Phil Jackson working his magic in the front office, the Knicks should have no trouble being in a position to make a convincing pitch to Durant. Not only is he close with Keefe, but they have the allure of Jackson's championship background, one of the league's biggest media markets and another close friend of Durant's in Derek Fisher, who he played with in Oklahoma City for a couple of years."

There will be other strategies employed by other teams and OKC would still have the Bird rights' advantage in terms of contract length and money. But spending is not really the Thunder front office's strong suit-something they must reconsider in the the next two seasons.

Also, with Kevin Durant's mammoth new deal with Nike, money would not seem to be a difference-maker anymore. Winning a title would, as the MVP confides, he would stay with OKC if the next two seasons would be very fruitful. From USA Today:

"Two (championship) years straight? That would be cool. It would definitely be tough to (leave then). That's one of those things where you've got a dynasty now. But like I said, I don't want to think too far down the line. I'm trying to focus on today. I love my teammates, my coaches, the front office, the city, but we'll see."

And so will the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and maybe even the Chicago Bulls or Boston Celtics. Perhaps all the basketball world as well.