Yeah, I'd be pretty dang sure taking the $7M QO was an empty threat (especially given the injury history).
Who takes on a chance on being able to go through life saying: Well, I could have earned another $125M but I took advice from my brother and then blew out my knee again.
Hell, KZ could sign a $130M max with the Knix (or another team as an RFA, with Knick matching rights) and then complain and say he wants out after another year or whatever if the Knix don't fix themselves and cater to whatever demands he has. He could probably also engineer a sign-and-trade with the Knix as well (though I'm not up on how that stands under the new, new CBA).
You are using your value system on a Latvian.
But even if you are correct and they're all about the money.... why the F did they POSTURE at all?
Fizdale took his
wife to LAtvia to meet these fools who, couple months later are commenting "THIS IS #! BULLSHIT" to a Fizdale quote
WHAT HAPPENED? WHY POSTURE? WHY POST SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE to FIZ?
FUCKING DOUCHES. If you're happy and injured STFU. If you're unhappy and injured STFU.
Get back on the court and then talk.
They were assholez who provoked the whole thing. No FO trades a happy non-injured superstar.