Kevin Durant is still putting up the kind of numbers that make front offices stop and pay attention. At 37, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 78 games last season and landed on the All-NBA Second Team. That kind of production usually keeps a player planted firmly in the “untouchable” bucket.
But Houston may not see it that way for long.
The Rockets could be pushed toward a decision before February’s trade deadline, especially with Durant holding a player option for the 2027-2028 season. If he’s unhappy with how things are going, he can opt in and then head toward free agency. Recent reports have also created the sense that some NBA front offices no longer view him as a premium trade asset, which only raises the pressure on Houston to act before his value becomes harder to maximize.
One idea floating around sends Durant to the Knicks in a package built around OG Anunoby, Pacome Dadiet, and draft compensation. The logic is straightforward: New York gets a proven scorer for a title push, while Houston brings back a player who could fit the next stage of its roster.
Anunoby just finished a strong season for the Knicks, averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals in 67 games while earning a spot on the league’s All-Defensive Second Team. He then turned in an even sharper run in the NBA Finals, putting up 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals over five games.
That stretch has only added to the belief that an All-Star leap could be coming. HoopsHype lists him at No. 12 among the top power forwards heading into the upcoming season.
“Anunoby is far from a star, but he’s a downright superstar role player, a slashing small-ball power forward with a ridiculous wingspan at nearly 7-foot-2, who can defend guards, wings or bigs at a high level, while creating steals by poking away loose ball-handles or jumping passing lanes, as well as protecting the rim…The former Indiana standout is the prototypical 3-and-D type, except he’s got scoring juice off the dribble, too, making him a huge weapon on both ends.”
From New York’s side, the appeal is obvious. Durant would be an immediate offensive jolt for a team with its championship window wide open. Still, there’s also a case for staying with Anunoby and betting on his upside instead of leaning on Durant’s age and future uncertainty.
For Houston, Anunoby would bring more than just scoring. He would strengthen the defense on the wing and fit the timeline of a young core that includes Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason, all of whom are under contract through at least 2030.
Even so, the odds of Durant being moved before next summer look slim. Houston reached a 50+ win record without being at full strength, and that makes it tough to picture the team in a rush to break anything up before February. Still, if Durant’s second season in Houston goes off the rails, the Knicks could be the cleanest trade partner on the board.
In Other News...
Knicks Just Set Up A Sneaky Camp Battle For One Roster Spot
The Knicks kept their late-summer roster churn moving by adding center Drew Eubanks on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract and big man Liam Robbins on an Exhibit 10 deal. Eubanks gives New York another experienced frontcourt body heading into camp, while Robbins gets a longer look after landing in an arrangement that can funnel players toward the Westchester Knicks if they spend time with the G League club.
New York also signed six more players - Jaden Akins, Nick Jourdain, Mitch Mascari, Toby Okani, Igor Milicic and Paul Zilinskas - to Exhibit 10 contracts before waiving them, a common setup that keeps the pipeline active around camp and Westchester. The bigger intrigue now is how the Knicks sort out the final end-of-roster competition and which of the newcomers can turn a temporary invitation into something more lasting once practices and preseason games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A Quietly Important Depth Decision Behind Towns And Drummond
With 13 roster spots already spoken for, the Knicks are still sorting through how to round out the back end of the roster, and the search has leaned toward defense and experience. Among the names they have looked at are veteran free agents Drew Eubanks and John Konchar, a sign that New York is trying to keep the final pieces of the group functional rather than flashy as it builds around its core.
Eubanks is the more interesting fit because of the position he can play in the shadow of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. The Knicks could use a dependable third center who can absorb regular-season minutes without forcing a bigger structural change, and Eubanks has been part of that conversation as he works his way back from thumb surgery. For a team trying to preserve its frontcourt depth over a long season, the last open spot may matter more than it usually does. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face One Big Hurdle In Veteran Wing Pursuit
John Konchars market is starting to take shape after Minnesota waived him following the trade from Utah, and the veteran wing is suddenly looking like one of the more interesting free-agent names still out there. Miami, Orlando, Toronto and the Knicks have all been linked to him, which makes sense for teams still hunting for reliable wing depth without overcommitting resources this late in the offseason.
For New York, the appeal is obvious, but so is the challenge. The Knicks have been combing the market for ways to add another capable perimeter piece, yet their roster and financial wiggle room are tight enough that any move has to be carefully measured. That leaves Konchar in an awkward spot for the moment: a useful fit for a contender, but one whose next landing place may come down to which interested team can create the cleanest path. [Read more 🡒]