Sources indicate that the New York Knicks were among the teams that pursued Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant leading up to the NBA trade deadline in February. It wasn`t just the Golden State Warriors showing interest, as the Knicks also reportedly made an offer for the forward. According to ESPN`s Shams Charania, the interest between the Knicks and Durant was “mutual.”
Ultimately, no trade involving Kevin Durant occurred before the deadline. However, Charania`s comments suggest that possibilities for the future might still exist, stating at the time, “Obviously, there was no Kevin Durant trade, but we will see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
The Knicks appear to be a logical potential destination for the 36-year-old superstar. A key factor supporting this idea is the alignment of contracts; specifically, the contract of New York`s center, Karl-Anthony Towns, closely matches Durant`s. Towns is set to earn approximately $2 million less than Durant in the 2025-26 season, making a salary-matching trade more feasible.
While executing such a trade could push the Knicks into the second luxury tax apron, resulting in a hard salary cap, analysts have noted that the team could likely navigate the financial implications. This could potentially be managed by including another minor salary in the deal or involving a third team to facilitate the trade mechanics.
The context of this reported interest comes amidst recent significant organizational changes for the Knicks. Just days before the report surfaced, the team dismissed head coach Tom Thibodeau after five seasons, despite him having just guided them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, where they fell short of reaching the NBA Finals. The front office has also been aggressive in roster building, making notable trades such as acquiring Mikal Bridges last offseason and, more recently, trading Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a future first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns.
Jasper Hawthorne