The New York Knicks looked into trading for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant at the NBA trade deadline, but the Suns ultimately ended up hanging on to the future Hall of Famer.
Now, fresh off a bitter loss in the Eastern Conference Finals and looking to shake up the franchise, the Knicks could get a second chance at Durant -- at a much lower asking price.
Sam Quinn of CBS Sports reported that the Suns were seeking three first-round picks along with a young player when teams inquired about Durant ahead of the trade deadline, but that asking price is now coming down.
Quinn reported that the Knicks were one of a handful of teams with mutual interest in Durant at the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean an unreasonably high price.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant pushes the ball upcourt as Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith defends at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2025.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant pushes the ball upcourt as Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith defends at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2025.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
"This probably won't be a true bidding war," Quinn reported. "Durant can narrow the field to his preferred destinations using his expiring deal as leverage. But the mere fact that this interest exists means that Phoenix should get meaningful positive value in return."
The Knicks could be more motivated to land Durant after falling one game short of the NBA Finals, losing to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. New York has signaled a shakeup after Tom Thibodeau was fired on Tuesday.
Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement that the organization is "singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” which could mean a renewed interest in Durant this summer.