In an appearance on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ this week, 5x NBA champion Magic Johnson spoke on many subjects relating to his basketball career and the current NBA offseason. In one segment, he chimed in on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes and pushed for the New York Knicks to make a deal.
“Kevin Durant is a piece that can get you over to win a Championship. I like him if he can come here, to New York, to play for the Knicks,” said Magic. “[Jalen] Brunson needs help, and he needs help in the 4th quarter. He’s gonna get you there, but then Indiana loaded up against him and everybody else couldn’t deliver.”
With Durant’s departure from Phoenix all but a certainty this summer, teams around the league are already preparing their best efforts in hopes of potentially landing the 2x champion. The Knicks, who are fresh off an appearance in the Conference Finals, have been tied to several big-name players this summer, but Magic says Kevin Durant could build something special with Jalen Brunson. He compared the partnership to the iconic Kobe/Shaq duo of the early 2000s.
“They need a guy like Kevin Durant who could say, ‘Brunson, you get us there, but I’m gonna take us home.’ It reminds me of Shaq and Kobe,” said Johnson. “So you need a person like Kevin Durant who also could put a team into foul trouble. It’s not just his scoring ability, but he also puts you in foul trouble. That was a wake-up call against the Pacers for the Knicks. They are not deep enough, and they’re too slow, playing with two bigs. So I believe Durant could help the Knicks.”
Jalen Brunson is currently the leading basketball star in New York, and while his stats are respectable (26.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game this season), it has yet to result in a Finals run. With Durant by his side, Brunson’s life would be much easier on the court, and the offense would open up for the entire team. Plus, as a 2x champion, he brings unique playoff experience that will help the Knicks succeed when it matters most.
With limited draft assets, GM Leon Rose will have to get creative in his trade offer, but there may be enough in the way of picks and young players to make a compelling package. The trade could involve a swap with Karl-Anthony Towns or a multi-player exchange that sends Mikal Bridges, Mitchell Robinson, and Miles McBride to the Suns.
With other teams in pursuit (including the Rockets, Timberwolves, and Spurs), the price will be high for Durant this summer, but with averages of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season, he may be worth the sacrifice.
For a Knicks team that has seemingly plateaued after years of growth, trading for Durant is just the kind of move that might finally result in a championship run. With no titles since 1973, the Knicks are desperate to win, and they will do whatever it takes to break the cycle of losing that has plagued them for decades.
