Knicks’ place in Kawhi Leonard’s crystallizing free agency plan

The Knicks may have to fly to Kawhi Leonard’s hometown for their meeting with the Raptors superstar.

While things are still fluid, a source confirmed a tweet from confidant Cris Carter that Leonard will hold all his free agent meetings in Los Angeles.

Leonard will get a late start as free agency begins Sunday night but he won’t convene with the Lakers and Clippers until Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The Knicks are expected to go sometime thereafter.

Carter reports the Raptors will get the last meeting. Earlier this month, Carter tweeted Leonard will likely sign with the Clippers but that was before the Raptors won the title.

The Post reported earlier this month the Knicks fully expected a Leonard meeting and would make a stronger push than previously thought. Knicks president Steve Mills has known Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, a key adviser, for years as they both lived in South Orange, NJ.

The Knicks are still considered as outliers in the Leonard hunt and the Lakers have emerged after clearing cap space for a max player to enlist with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Knicks view it as important to land the Leonard confab even if it is to lay the groundwork for the future. There’s been a report Leonard would only sign with Toronto on a one-year deal to defend the crown and become a free agent in 2020.

In addition to basketball, the Knicks will also sell New York’s unprecedented marketing opportunities, specifically the raging sneaker industry that exists here. That could perk Leonard’s ears because he just made a bold move from the Jordan Brand to lesser-known New Balance.

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The Knicks believe Leonard can make a good fit with his understated, Derek Jeter-esque demeanor.

As for Kevin Durant, the Knicks had previously been told he may not stage the type of formal meetings that shaped his 2016 free agency when he held court in a Hamptons mansion. And that was before the Achilles tear that has him moving around on a motorized scooter. Durant is more apt to talk to teams via conference calls.

The Knicks believe they are in the hunt – as do league sources – and haven’t shied away despite his grim injury that puts him out next season and may not see him return to his full capacity until the 2021-2022 campaign.