After it was used to pitch season-ticket holders on the prospect of renewing their seats for the worst team in the NBA, New York Knicks have deleted a photo of Kevin Durant from their website.
The photo, which showed the Golden State Warriors star alongside Knicks rookie center Mitchell Robinson, indicated to some that the organization was hinting Durant would be coming to NY as a free agent this summer.
That, of course, would be a premature assumption.
Sensitive to giving off the wrong impression, the Knicks opted to erase the image from their site after it was used in the promotion.
Knicks are asking season ticket holders for renewals by Feb 28 and using this image to get them to opt in. @IanBegley @SBondyNYDN @Schmeelk @TommyBeer pic.twitter.com/Rz3oPZnZMW
— Paul (@Paul_HQ) February 10, 2019
“Game action photos are used all the time for marketing purposes, but given everything going on, we took the precaution of taking the photo down,” the Knicks said in a statement Sunday night. “To be clear, it was one of several rotating photos on the website.”
Durant, who is averaging 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and six assists for Golden State so far this season, can opt-out of the two-year, $61.5 million deal he inked with the Warriors last season and become a free agent again this summer.
If Durant does hit the market and the Knicks are able to sign him, the team has the cap space to attempt to pair him with Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving or Klay Thompson.
The Knicks (10-45) have tied a single-season franchise record with 16 consecutive losses.
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