NBA Rumors: Knicks Might Try To Trade High Draft Pick For Kevin Durant Or Kevin Love
NBA Rumors: According to some league executives, it’s believed that the New York Knicks will try and trade their high draft pick for Kevin Durant or Kevin Love
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The New York Knicks are rarely in the business of building one brick at a time. Thus, when thinking about their upcoming road back to the top, it’s easy to see why they would search vigorously for some kind of shortcut.
And even though there probably isn’t one to be had in these types of situations, expect the Knicks to try. Until there is no end.
According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, that could entail trying to trade their projected high lottery 2015 draft pick for Kevin Durant or Kevin Love — both of whom could be entering their final season in their contracts next season.
"[via Newsday]“They could try to trade it for Kevin Durant,” one NBA executive said. “Or maybe Kevin Love. Cleveland probably would do that.”…“They’re going to get a very nice draft pick,” an Eastern Conference official said. “The decisions they have to make is do they take that draft pick and try to multiply it into different assets or keep the pick? You have to look at that option.”"
Durant, who enters the final year of his contract next season, hasn’t said he wants out of Oklahoma City or has even hinted that he would like to play for the Knicks, but, as we’ve seen over the last few years, stars getting traded right before they hit free agency is beginning to become a thing in the NBA. It’s the best move teams have in order to wrestle back power from the players.
Although, that doesn’t seem like the likely move for the Thunder, even though that’s exactly what they did to James Harden three years ago. Then again, Kevin Durant is not James Harden.
Love, who actually could end up hitting free agency this offseason if he opts out of the final year of his contract, could actually be in play for the Knicks if you believe in the narrative of his up and down morale this season.
That’s a trade that could be intriguing for the Cavaliers too, considering that Love might leave anyway after next season (if he opts in or signs a one-year deal) and the fact that a top-5 draft selection would be a huge asset in trying to find another star to stick next to LeBron James, if Love doesn’t want to be that guy.
In the end though, the Knicks might just be in a situation where they’re going to have to bite the bullet and opt to rebuild the old fashioned way.
One thing’s for sure though, they’re not going down without a fight in search of that one big star to expedite the process.