Kevin Durant would have placed the Knicks among his top preferred destinations, but the team didn’t want to trade for him, according to a report from veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein.
"New York made it clear that it’s decided against pursuing a trade for” him, Stein reported.
Rick Kleiman, Durant’s business manager, is a huge Knicks fans and has admitted on the record he tried to get Durant to go to the Knicks in 2019.
“I wanted [Durant] to go to the Knicks,” Kleiman said in an interview.
Durant, who is due to make almost $55 million next season, is now focused on three teams – the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat – according to ESPN. He remains linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he and Anthony Edwards would form one of the league’s most potent dynamic duos.
The Phoenix Suns have reportedly made it clear that they plan on dealing the 37-year-old Durant in exchange for a bevy of assets.
Meantime, former NBA player Jay Williams suggested Monday on “Get Up” that the Knicks consider trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Suns straight up for Durant.
“Devin Booker has a great relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns, so if Devin Booker wants Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker has to state what he wants,” Williams said.
Booker is due to make about $53 million next season.
If the Knicks were to hypothetically make that trade, they could play Mitchell Robinson at the five and Durant at the four as they bid for the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973.
“That is a gigantic story, having a mega star like KD playing at the Garden,” ESPN’s Alan Hahn said. “I just don’t think right now that’s on the on the front burner for this Knicks team.”
The team just fired former coach Tom Thibodeau after he led to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.
New York has been denied permission to speak with multiple sitting head coaches, including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, who used to coach Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks are set to interview Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins this week.