Kristian Winfield: Kevin Durant sweepstakes: Could -- and should -- Knicks deal for KD?

Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News on Jun 11, 2025

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NEW YORK — The Knicks have entered the Kevin Durant sweepstakes — and there’s a chance they could win it outright.

The Durant in Phoenix era is coming to an end, and according to ESPN, the two sides have met “multiple times over the past week” to discuss trade scenarios following a disappointing season that ended without a playoff berth.

Durant, a two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, former league MVP, and one of the greatest scorers in history, reportedly listed the Knicks among his preferred destinations — alongside the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat.

Durant has one year and $54.7 million left on his deal and is expected to sign a two-year, $112 million extension with whichever team acquires him. The Knicks, fresh off their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years, are now in the mix — just days after firing head coach Tom Thibodeau.

What would a Durant deal look like?

Given their current cap situation — roughly $4 million above the first apron — the Knicks can’t take back more salary than they send out. That, plus the age discrepancy in the latter end of Durant’s career, likely rules out using Karl-Anthony Towns ($53.1M) or franchise cornerstone Jalen Brunson ($34.9M) as salary-matching anchors to facilitate a deal.

Instead, the Knicks would need to piece together a package from their next tier of high-salaried players: OG Anunoby ($39.5M), Mikal Bridges ($24.9M), Josh Hart ($19.5M) and Mitchell Robinson ($12.9M). Matching Durant’s $54.7M will require stacking at least two or three of those names — and even then, it gets complicated.

Anunoby’s 15% trade kicker — about $6.6M annually for across the life of his deal — is paid by the Knicks but counts toward Phoenix’s books. If he doesn’t waive the kicker, it puts his Year 1 cap hit closer to $45 million, which means the Knicks still need to add another $10 million in salary just to meet Durant’s price.

Complicating matters: the Suns are also over the second apron. They can’t take back more money than they send out and are prohibited from aggregating salaries in a trade. That means any deal for Durant would require a third or even fourth team to facilitate.

The Knicks also have limited draft capital to sweeten the pot. They’ve already sent out five first-round picks in the deal for Bridges, which leaves them with only the Wizards’ top-eight protected 2026 first-rounder (which could convert into two seconds), swap rights in 2026, 2030 and 2032, and eight second-rounders — possibly 10 if the Wizards pick doesn’t convey.

What do Suns want?

Phoenix mortgaged its future to land Durant in the first place, sending Brooklyn four first-rounders, a pick swap, and two high-end starters in Bridges and Cam Johnson. If they move KD now, it’ll likely be for a retool around Devin Booker — not a full-on rebuild.

That puts New York in direct competition with several well-positioned contenders. The Spurs, Heat, Wolves and Rockets all have more flexibility, more draft picks, or more young players to offer. The question is: how far are the Knicks willing to go?

Anunoby has been one of the most impactful players for the Knicks since his arrival in the deal that sent R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors. The Suns have also had conversations about re-acquiring Bridges after moving him from Phoenix to Brooklyn, though moving Bridges for Durant would require further salary cap gymnastics to meet Durant’s price tag.

Does a Durant trade to NY make sense?

It depends on the cost — and the risk tolerance.

Durant is still elite, averaging nearly 27 points per game over the last two seasons while playing 137 of a possible 164 games. But he’s also 37 years old, with a recent injury history and a massive contract that would constrain an already top-heavy Knicks roster.

If the Knicks find a way to land him without parting with Brunson or Towns — and without completely gutting their depth — Durant could be the final piece in a legitimate title push. But if the cost is too steep? They risk becoming the next top-heavy team that falls short in the playoffs with no outs.

In other words, the next Phoenix Suns.

Durant ranks eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and owns four scoring titles — trailing only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. But at this stage of his career, it’s no longer about how much he can score. It’s about how far the Knicks are willing to go to find out — and whether breaking up a championship-caliber core for a Top-75 legend is a gamble worth the cost.