The New York Knicks tried to accumulate celebrity Kevin Durant type the Phoenix Suns on the 2025 NBA commerce deadline simply months after receiving Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges in offers from separate trades, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.
Kevin Durant Commerce Fell By way of Thanks To $51.2 Million Wage
Though New York and Durant had mutual curiosity, a commerce deal was by no means reached between the 2 groups. NBA insiders speculate {that a} deal fell brief due to Durant’s hefty contract.
Knicks workforce president Leon Rose was ready to make one other blockbuster commerce, however it might have been troublesome for the group to tackle Durant’s $51.2 million wage.
Jalen Brunson, who signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension final July, would have been off limits. He earned $34.94 million this season and is projected to make $37.73 million in 2025-26.
As well as, buying and selling Mikal Bridges ($23.3 million) or OG Anunoby ($36.63 million) would have made the Knicks even weaker defensively.
Josh Hart ($18.14 million) and Mitchell Robinson ($14.31 million) mixed would’ve gotten New York to roughly $32.4 million, which nonetheless falls beneath Durant’s wage determine.
Knicks May Have Acquired Durant For Karl-Anthony Cities
Assuming Rose had no real interest in reaching out to a 3rd or fourth workforce to get entangled to assist facilitate a commerce financially, it might appear as if the Knicks might have traded Karl-Anthony Cities for Durant. Cities’ cap hit is $49.2 million this marketing campaign and $53.14 million for 2025-26.
Cities’ protection was a obtrusive concern for New York through the playoffs.
The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz reported Knicks gamers and coaches “expressed frustration with Cities’ defensive habits — much less involved along with his expertise stage and extra along with his course of on that finish.”
“Too usually, Cities executed incorrect coverages with out speaking why he did it,” the report mentioned. “After it turned a theme, gamers frightened Cities didn’t grasp the significance of the matter.”
Kevin Durant An Improve Over Cities?
Durant is among the best gamers in NBA historical past, profitable two championships, an MVP award, two NBA Finals MVP awards, two All-Star Recreation MVP awards, 4 scoring titles, and Rookie of the Yr. He has additionally been named to 11 All-NBA groups and is a 15-time All-Star.
However would buying and selling Cities for Durant have helped the Knicks defensively?
In 62 video games with the Suns this season, Durant averaged 26.6 factors, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 36.5 minutes per contest whereas capturing 52.7% from the sector and 43% from deep.
Durant has by no means been named to the All-NBA Defensive workforce.
Cities Underachieved In The Playoffs
For comparability, Cities averaged 24.4 factors, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 35 minutes in 72 video games with the Knicks. So is the 7-footer only a playoff choker?
Cities recorded 44 factors and 13 rebounds in a 116-107 win over the Miami Warmth on Oct. 29. He completed 17-of-25 capturing from the sector, 4-for-5 from 3-point vary, and 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
The 44 factors additionally have been probably the most in a recreation by a Knicks heart since Patrick Ewing in 1995.
Moreover, Cities turned the primary participant in Knicks franchise historical past with 40 factors, 10 rebounds, and 65% capturing in a recreation since Carmelo Anthony in 2014.
For his play in December, Cities was additionally named Japanese Convention Participant of the Month for the primary time in his profession. He helped lead the Knicks to a 12-2 file that month, averaging 23.2 factors, 14.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per recreation.
