Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant is a virtual lock to be on the move again, and the New York Knicks are “definitely” among the teams monitoring the situation closely.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “the Knicks are definitely a team that is gonna have some interest in Kevin Durant. There are going to be a handful of them.”
“I do believe Kevin Durant will be traded in the coming weeks. Today the Suns are naming their new head coach Jordan Ott… he’s had an introductory press conference. They’ve been going through that process and I expect them to look into the Durant trade market pretty soon.” — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst
Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Windhorst added that he believes “Kevin Durant will be traded in the coming weeks,” noting the significance of Durant entering the final year of his deal and the Suns' urgency to right their wrongs.
Durant, 36, has one year remaining on his contract with the Phoenix Suns at a cap hit of $54.7 million and is expected to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason.
KD’s future in Phoenix is uncertain, to say the least, and following the team’s disastrous 2024–25 campaign and the hiring of new head coach Jordan Ott it looks like Durant’s days in the desert are more than over.
“Today the Suns are naming their new head coach,” Windhorst said. “I expect them to look into the Durant trade market pretty soon.”
A trade could mark the end of a brief and disappointing chapter for Durant in Phoenix. The veteran forward has not reached the NBA Finals since 2019, when he was still a member of the Golden State Warriors.
Windhorst also explained the trade mechanics behind a potential Knicks deal.
“The way the Knicks get this done is Karl-Anthony Towns,” Windhorst said. “It has to do with the trade rules. It has to do with stuff like that. The Knicks would have to trade three rotation players otherwise.
“Just keep that in mind when you dream of your Knicks trades.”
Towns, 29, is entering the second year of a supermax contract with the Knicks, with a $53.1 million cap hit next season that rises to $61 million in 2027–28. If only because his salary closely matches Durant’s, making him a logical piece in a straight trade under current CBA rules.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe discussed the Durant buzz on his podcast, noting that offseason chatter is heating up around the league and that trade ideas are “flying everywhere.” Lowe presented the Miami Heat as a real contender to pursue Durant, while also name-dropping the Los Angeles Clippers as another possible destination, although doubting if they’d have enough to please Phoenix as well as Durant’s willingness to reunite with James Harden.
Durant has also been linked to the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, with the Suns believed to be prioritizing draft compensation more than developed and established players.
According to Windhorst, Durant’s preferences may influence the process.
“The key with Durant is this: he has one year left on his contract,” Windhorst said. “Is he going to want to sign an extension? And is he going to want to be a part of the process of the trade, and are the Suns going to let him be involved?”
Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 62 games last season with the Suns, failing to clinch the play-in with Phoenix.