NBA Trade Rumors: New York Knicks could land $194,219,320 Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant in shock move after Tom Thibodeau firing

Time of India

2 days ago

(Image Source - Getty Images)
What if the New York Knicks actually went all in for Kevin Durant? Well, they did. With all the chatter going on, SNY's Ian Begley has warned fans not to get too excited. New York reached out about Durant during the February trade deadline—even after they let go of coach Tom Thibodeau following a 51-win season.
However, insider information now indicates that the chances of making this huge deal happen are pretty low. Here's the scoop on why this rumor gained traction and what might still unfold.
Knicks' Deadline Offer Confirmed, but Insider Warns Deal 'Very Unlikely' Despite Playoff Surge
In February, during the trade deadline, the Knicks supposedly made a bid to the Phoenix Suns for their $194 million star player, Kevin Durant, who has been putting up an average of 26.6 points per game this season. This move came right after New York confirmed the dismissal of head coach Tom Thibodeau, signaling that team president Leon Rose was eager to make bold moves following the Knicks' playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Yet, Ian Begley from ESPN, while on ESPN New York, tempered the excitement for this summer, mentioning he would 'be very surprised if he ended up here in New York for many different reasons' and calling the trade 'very unlikely to happen'.
Durant is about to enter the final year of his contract, earning just shy of $50 million for the 2025–26 season. His name has been a major talking point in trade rumors. According to sources, in addition to the Knicks, teams such as the Spurs, Timberwolves, Rockets, Heat, Mavericks, and maybe even the Lakers have shown interest.
Although Phoenix initially aimed for multiple first-round picks, they are reportedly easing their asking price, and insider interest remains strong.
To balance salaries without draft capital, there were speculated trade ideas for the Knicks that involved dealing Karl-Anthony Towns (salary about $49.2 million) and possibly OG Anunoby along with Mitchell Robinson (totaling $50.9 million) for Durant. But trading Towns less than a year after acquiring him—and giving up depth and valuable rotation pieces—could be a significant gamble.
The coaching job in New York opened up after Thibodeau left, showing that the franchise is going through some changes. Begley pointed out that unless there are significant changes in the front office and staff, making a real effort to get Durant is unlikely. — 'It would take a big change over there for them to be super aggressive'.
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It's on the table—especially with New York's deadline strategy and playoff momentum. But right now, insiders generally think this is a pretty unlikely scenario. Durant's contract is expiring, Phoenix's asset values are shifting, the Knicks have limited draft picks, and they're restructuring internally, which all makes a deal seem tough. As we head into the 2025 offseason, everyone will be focused on Durant—but for now, it's just a lot of trade speculation, not a finalized agreement.