The New York Knicks are once again getting attention, and there are lots of rumors about their future moves during the NBA playoffs. It's unclear if the Knicks will keep their main group of players or try to add more star talent.
New York might be proactive and try to trade some players to bring in another star to play with Jalen Brunson. ESPN’s Zach Lowe mentioned the Knicks as a potential destination for Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant.
The speculation comes with an important condition regarding whether Durant or the Suns think a breakup is necessary. So far, there's no sign of a breakup, but it's worth watching after a disappointing season.
“The most obvious one is Durant for some portion of the Villanova Knicks and draft equity,” Lowe explained on an April 29, 2024 episode of “The Lowe Post” podcast. “If I’m the Knicks, I gotta see how I do in the playoffs. I kind of like the Villanova Knicks. My fans love the Villanova Knicks.
“Kevin Durant is 36 years old. Okay, not sure I want do it.”
Knicks Rumors: Kevin Durant’s Trade Value Remains an Interesting Puzzle for the Suns
The discussion about Durant's trade market will be interesting because the 14-time All-Star hasn't had much success in the playoffs with the Suns and Brooklyn Nets. Durant has two seasons left on a four-year, $194 million contract. Durant is set to have a $51.1 million cap hit next season, and this increases to $54.7 million in 2025-26.
There's still plenty to like about Durant, who played 75 games this past year after being hampered by injuries in recent seasons. Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in 2023-24.
NBA GM on Kevin Durant: ‘It Seems Like a Long Time Since Kevin Was Happy as a Player’
If Brunson is almost untouchable, who else could the Knicks consider trading in a major deal? Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are among the Knicks players who could attract trade interest. Opposing general managers have worries about Durant's happiness, which might decrease his trade value.
“You have to ask, ‘How much of this baggage is his, how much is just the bad circumstances he was in?’ Because it seems like a long time since Kevin was happy as a player,” an Eastern Conference GM told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney. “He’s disgruntled all the time. So then you have to ask, ‘If he is unhappy, can we take it, do we have the coach and the locker room to shrug that stuff off?’”
All this should make the Knicks think carefully about whether to potentially disrupt a good situation in order to take on Durant's uncertainty.
Suns Rumors: Kevin Durant Is Unhappy With His Role in Phoenix Offense
Kevin Durant seems unhappy once again with his current situation. The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Doug Haller reported that Durant had issues with his role in the Phoenix offense on April 29.
“Meanwhile, Durant, among the best scorers in NBA history, was not always happy with how he was used,” Charania and Haller wrote on April 29. “Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season.
“Unnamed individuals said that Durant had consistent problems with the offensive strategy, believing that he was being pushed to the corner too frequently and that the offense didn't have the right plays to utilize his strengths, focusing too much on pick-and-rolls. Meanwhile, some of his teammates and individuals connected to the organization thought that Durant should express his concerns more forcefully and directly to Vogel and his coaching team.”
