The Kevin Durant sweepstakes could heat up again this summer, and this time, the New York Knicks might be one of the frontrunners. On a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, veteran NBA insider Brian Windhorst hinted at a potentially seismic move involving Durant and the Knicks, suggesting that a trade could become realistic depending on how the postseason unfolds.
“It’s going to be hard to read the Durant situation until we see the playoffs play out because, for example, you could see a team surprise, lose in the first or second round, and wake up in mid-May and say, ‘We are Kevin Durant away from winning it.’ So the market for him in a month could be different from now. That’s my precursor.”
“I do think the concept of the Knicks is an interesting one. Now, in my opinion, I’ve never understood why Kevin Durant didn’t go to the Knicks in 2019 and instead went to the Nets. I get what they were building in Brooklyn was compelling.”
“I have heard what he said about that. I don’t understand why he wouldn’t go to the Knicks, and I am not going to assume or guess at what Kevin has thought about that.”
“The Knicks, as you know, Stephen A., they’re probably not headed for a great postseason. They’ve had a very good regular season. They won 50 games. They’ve got some really good pieces. They have been shellacked by the teams ahead of them in the league—not even shellacked, they have been totally washed out.”
“They have no wins over any of the teams better than them in the league, essentially. So they have some pieces they could offer for Durant.”
Windhorst pointed out that Durant’s situation is fluid and highly dependent on playoff results across the league. The Phoenix Suns flamed out this season with a 36-46 record, missing the playoffs entirely despite boasting a trio of stars in Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
The disappointing campaign led to the firing of head coach Mike Budenholzer, and according to multiple reports, Durant has grown increasingly frustrated with the organization, especially after they explored trades for him at the deadline. It’s clear both sides may be open to a split this offseason.
Windhorst expressed confusion as to why Durant didn’t join the Knicks back in 2019 when he became a free agent. In hindsight, Durant’s Nets tenure fell far short of expectations, marred by injuries and constant off-court drama involving Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
The team never made it beyond the second round of the playoffs, and Durant was eventually traded to Phoenix in 2023. Now, after another turbulent season, the idea of finally wearing orange and blue might appeal to the two-time Finals MVP.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are in a much better position than they were in 2019. They just completed a 51-win regular season and clinched the third seed in the East.
However, as Windhorst noted, the Knicks have struggled against elite teams, going winless against top-tier contenders like the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Thunder. If they exit early in the playoffs, it could accelerate their urgency to pursue another superstar.
The Knicks have assets to offer. They hold a top-10 protected pick in the 2025 draft, a 2026 first-rounder, and two additional second-round picks. While Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are considered untouchable, role players like Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby, and Quentin Grimes could be used in a deal.
Durant previously explained that in 2019, the Knicks “weren’t cool” as a team, even if the brand still held prestige. That perception has changed.
The Knicks are now a legitimate playoff team with a deep roster, strong front office, and a passionate fan base. If the Suns are ready to move on and Durant is open to the idea, the Big Apple might finally get the superstar it missed out on five years ago.
