Until the New York Knicks make their long-awaited trade for a superstar, the rumors won't stop. It doesn't matter that New York is still fighting in the postseason. With most teams in offseason mode, several "targets" have been identified for the Knicks.
Maybe New York will make a series of smaller trades instead of a major splash. The front office won't trade for a star simply because they're available. Whoever the Knicks acquire (if that's what they do) must mesh well alongside Jalen Brunson. He's the face of the franchise.
Bleacher Report identified three players New York could target this summer if they become available, headlined by none other than Kevin Durant.
Should the Knicks be interested in trading for one of these stars?
Kevin Durant
Durant pushed for a trade to the Suns before the 2023 deadline and got what he wanted. In the 2023 postseason, Phoenix was a second-round exit at the hands of the eventual champions. In 2024, the Suns were swept in the first round by the Timberwolves.
Phoenix fired Frank Vogel and replaced him with Mike Budenholzer, who won a title with the Bucks in 2021. In his end-of-the-season press conference, owner Mat Ishbia was adamant that the Suns would keep its core together. Phoenix doesn't have the draft capital to drastically improve the roster.
If Durant wants to be traded, there's no reason the Knicks should be interested. It isn't 2019 anymore. He had his chance to revive New York, but luckily, he and Kyrie Irving chose Brooklyn.
Durant will turn 36 before the 2024-25 season and he's signed through 2025-26. He's still playing at a high level, but for how much longer? Considering how his past two stops have gone (Brooklyn and Phoenix), there's even less reason for New York to cash in its assets for him.
Verdict: Pass
Paul George
Paul George and the Clippers have tried to agree on an extension, but one hasn't happened. There's still time, but he could decline his $48.8 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent. The offseason's not officially begun, but George has already been linked the most to the Sixers, who are hunting for another star.
New York was interested in PG13 last summer but backed down because of his extension. If the front office didn't want to commit money to an aging, injury-prone veteran in 2023, they shouldn't want to do so in 2024.
George recently turned 34. To his credit, he did play in 74 regular-season games, the most since the 2018-19 season when he played in 77 with the Thunder. As impressive as that is for him, the last thing the Knicks should do is commit a lot of money to him. Given the injuries New York has dealt with this season, it's not worth it.
Maybe if it were a few years ago, things would be different. As nice as it'd be to have an All-Defensive caliber player in George, that ship has sailed. The Knicks should be happy to let a team like the Sixers get PG13 and overpay him.
Verdict: Pass
Donovan Mitchell
A couple of years ago, the Donovan Mitchell trade rumors were heating up. The Jazz had been bounced from the first round (again), marking the third time in the last four years. Once the Rudy Gobert trade happened, the writing was on the wall for Mitchell's future.
After a two-month saga, the Cavaliers swooped in and gave the Jazz three unprotected first-round picks for the guard. Several months later, New York eliminated Cleveland in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. The Cavaliers got past the first round this year, but it took seven games to beat a young Magic team.
Mitchell could sign an extension this summer, but the belief is that won't happen. He'll make $35.4 million in 2024-25 before a $37 million player option in 2025-26. If he doesn't want to stay in Cleveland long-term, he could be traded this summer.
There's a real chance the Knicks could be back in the running for Mitchell. It wouldn't cost as much to acquire him as in 2022.
Depending on the price, the Knicks could cash in their assets for a star and still have some left over. There are still questions about a Brunson-Mitchell backcourt, but New York would have to consider it.
Verdict: Pursue (within reason)