The New York Knicks have been rumored to be interested in pursuing a star player this offseason, but one veteran reportedly isn’t on their list of desires.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported on Wednesday that the Knicks “are not in the mix” for Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant, who is one of the top trade candidates on the market this summer.
Earlier on Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania listed the Knicks among the five teams that “have expressed interest” in trading for Durant along with the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. Charania noted that the Suns “have met multiple times over the past week” with Durant’s business partner, Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, to discuss trade scenarios.
It appears that New York is no longer on the table as a potential landing spot for Durant, as Bondy reported that a league source said the team “will not be dealing for the future Hall of Famer.” The Knicks reportedly had interest in signing Durant when he was a free agent in 2019 before he chose to join the crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets, and Bondy noted that his father, Wayne, was “pushing him to join the Knicks at that time.”
Durant is set to make $54.7 million for the 2025-26 season, which could cause teams to shy away from trying to acquire him. After July 6, he will also be eligible to sign a two-year contract extension worth up to $112 million. That figure increases to $124 million if the extension is signed six months after a trade is completed.
The 36-year-old is still regarded as one of the best offensive players in the league, and he’s surely motivated to chase his third career NBA championship. While the Knicks are also in “win-now” mode, it appears they will be making other pursuits this offseason in hopes of achieving their ultimate goal.
