One could argue that the New York Knicks are under the most pressure to perform in the playoffs.
After acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns in a blockbuster October trade, the consensus was the Knicks had enough pieces to compete in the Eastern Conference.
However, with New York finishing with an abysmal 0-10 record against the three elite NBA teams (Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Cleveland Cavaliers), there’s much to prove in the upcoming postseason.
A disastrous performance may prompt the franchise to acquire a two-time Finals MVP forward in a trade that would send OG Anunoby to the Phoenix Suns.
“This one is tricky, given the second-apron status of the Suns and the first-apron status of the Knicks, but if it happens after New York renounces the rights to some of its own free agents, it's possible,” Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey wrote Monday.
“Thanks to the splashy Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns trades it already made, New York also doesn't have a lot of draft capital to offer up. So it would have to hope that no one else is willing to offer up a couple first-rounders to have a good shot at KD (Kevin Durant).”
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“Draft capital should be important for Phoenix (Suns), and the Knicks simply can't offer much.”
“This particular package would help the Suns stay competitive in the short term, though. If they opt to stick with Devin Booker, putting a high-end, three-and-D forward like OG Anunoby next to him makes sense.”
“And while there are genuine concerns about his health, Mitchell Robinson would represent an upgrade for Phoenix at the starting center spot.”
In Bailey’s trade proposal, the Knicks would send Anunoby, Robinson, two 2026 second-round picks, a 2027 second-round pick, and two 2028 second-round picks to the Suns for Durant.
Durant’s tenure with the Suns has run its course. When they acquired Durant in February of 2023, the Suns had championships in mind. However, Phoenix has recently exhibited little to no signs of hope from a contention standpoint.
After falling to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference semifinals and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, the Suns continued to decline by missing the postseason this year.
Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from three in 62 regular-season contests.
Still, it wasn’t enough to help the disappointing Suns limp into the playoffs.
By leaving the Suns for the Knicks, Durant could join a star-studded Knicks team headlined by Towns and Jalen Brunson and exit his miserable situation in Phoenix.
While Anunoby has done everything Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks have asked this year, he would be a primary trade bait asset in a trade for a game-changing superstar in Durant.
Durant, who’s already won two titles in his career, could be headed toward No. 3 if a franchise-elevating deal with the Knicks materializes this summer.
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