NBA Trade Rumors: 5 teams who can rescue Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets
By Ian Levy
4. New York Knicks
This one leans heavily on two assumptions — that Durant may not want to leave New York City and that the Knicks haven’t completely abandoned their historic willingness to abandon essentially anything in pursuit of any available star.
The Knicks have the salaries to match Durant’s contract, and the war chest to send the Nets four or more first-round picks along with their pick of young players like Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, and RJ Barrett. The Knicks would love to hold onto Barrett if possible but even if they can’t, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Quentin Grimes and Isaiah Hartenstein are enough to keep them near the top of the Eastern Conference if Durant comes back healthy after the All-Star Break.
A few offseason tweaks from there could make them an inner-circle contender going into next season. Of all the gambles the Knicks have made or tried to make over the past two decades, this one might actually be worth it.