NBA free agency opened with a bang on Sunday with the news that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant plan to team up and sign with the Brooklyn Nets.
While both players will obviously be huge additions to a young Nets team — even with Durant's likely season-ending injury — another big story from the confluence of events was the Knicks striking out on their two biggest targets.
It was widely speculated throughout the season that New York would sign at least Durant or Irving. The ripple effect is that the Knicks have arguably lost their long-held status as the top basketball team in New York, with an already limited roster not likely to get much of a boost.
Social media hardly ever disappoints when there is big NBA news, and of course Sunday was no exception. As you can imagine, very few people on Twitter were kind to the Knicks — who are nearly assured to come out as the biggest losers of NBA free agency less than half an hour after it began.
MORE: NBA free agency rumors, live updates
Here are some of the best Twitter reactions from Sunday after the Knicks struck out in free agency.
The Knicks BEST Free Agent EVER is either Allan Houston, a 2 time All Star, or Amare, a 1 time All Star in NY before he fell off from injuries. Meanwhile, it took the Nets just 7 seasons in Brooklyn to sign KD and Kyrie.... Honestly 1 RT=1 Prayer for Knicks fans they need it 🙌 pic.twitter.com/o4dDgPmhfU
— Mike Korzemba (@mikekorz) June 30, 2019
Knicks tanked for Zion... Thought they were gonna get KD and Kyrie.... To now focusing on Julius Randle and Wayne Ellington. #NBAFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/XcJNv0bp9B
— Dylan (@DylansRawTake) June 30, 2019
The Knicks traded Porzingis, their best draft pick since 1985, to clear space for KD and Kyrie, only to see them sign down the street.
— JD Bunkis (@JDBunkis) June 30, 2019
Good luck RJ!
What an amazing day for the Nets.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 30, 2019
Incredible job by Sean Marks and the whole Nets organization, to beat out the Knicks for KD and Kyrie. Huge, massive gut punch for New York to see KD sign across the river in BK.
Nets have a legit shot at being a championship contender for years
If today's events don't make Jim Dolan take a step back and think about where the Knicks are as a brand -- after, remember, Dolan himself promised big things in free agency in March -- I'm not sure what will
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2019
I'm so glad I'm not a Knicks fan
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) June 30, 2019
-Me, a Detroit Lions fan
Live look at Knicks fans right now... 😢 pic.twitter.com/nmSo7crxC0
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 30, 2019
#Knicks always ran unopposed in NYC, until 7 years ago, a team came to #Brooklyn. For the first time, the Knicks had to compete for NYC’s NBA fans. Today that competition is over. The Knicks are finished as the #1 basketball team in town. The #Nets own NYC. It’s Jim Dolan’s fault
— Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) June 30, 2019
The Knicks & all their cap space pic.twitter.com/6bZQKFpGEk
— Jaycob Ammerman (@Jammer2233) June 30, 2019
The Knicks land their big fish in free agency. https://t.co/XSLVuzsxuR
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 30, 2019