After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks wasted little time making a big move. They fired coach Tom Thibodeau and are reportedly looking to make a splashy move this summer to acquire another star.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely at the top of their dream wishlist, but they could also pursue Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant. Despite Durant being six years older than Giannis, he's still playing at an extremely high level on both sides of the ball.
He also may be more affordable to trade for than Giannis, giving the Knicks a better chance of landing a star this summer. Nevertheless, according to Suns insider John Gambadoro, the Suns aren't interested in Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns.
While the Suns may not be interested in trading Towns, the possibility of a trade for Durant isn't entirely out of the question for the Knicks.
The New York Knicks must be creative to trade for Kevin Durant
Instead of a straight-up swap for Durant involving Towns, the Knicks could instead include OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Pacome Dadiet. They would have to sacrifice depth by training their starting small forward as well as their backup center, but it would give the Knicks more offensive firepower.
If this trade were to happen, they could boast an impressive starting lineup that features Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Durant, and Towns. It is debatable whether the Knicks would be better off keeping Anunoby and Mitchell, given that they are much younger than Durant. The Knicks would also be thin in terms of depth.
On the other hand, Durant averaged nearly 27 points per game last season and was surprisingly impactful defensively, ranking in the top 10 in opponent defensive shooting percentage. That means that he could help them significantly on both sides of the ball, especially on offense, where it often seemed to be the Brunson show.
With Durant, they would have another go-to scorer that they can rely on. If the Suns were to agree to the trade, or more likely, Durant tried to force his way to New York, then the Knicks should absolutely pull the trigger on the deal.
All in all, the Knicks appear dead set on trading a superstar this summer. With Giannis Antetokounmpo likely out of reach, Durant would be a nice alternative that could potentially help them make the NBA Finals next season.