Kevin Durant Could Have Altered Course of Jalen Brunson and Knicks in East Finals

Kevin Durant was on the radar of a lot of teams this past trade deadline as the Phoenix Suns entertained trade offers.

Kevin Durant Could Have Altered Course of Jalen Brunson and Knicks in East Finals

Kevin Durant could have been playing alongside Jalen Brunson in the East Finals (Image via FirstSportz)

Superstar Kevin Durant endured a torrid season with the Phoenix Suns. They were expected to use their improving chemistry to become a legitimate championship-contending team, only to fall by the wayside and finish outside the playoff spots.

Injuries did play a part, but rumors of locker room dysfunction hampered the season. Even though players tried to dispel those rumors, some members of the media believed the team was struggling to find its happy place.

Durant’s arguments with then-head coach Mike Budenholzer did not help matters, and both fans and the media believed the team was internally about to explode. They again tried to dispel those notions and were at least united when defending their situation.

It is not that the team was not trying, but trade rumors before the February deadline made matters worse. First, it was Bradley Beal who was thought to be on the way out, only to find out that he was not going to waive his no-trade clause.

Then it was Kevin Durant’s turn, as his name came up in a lot of potential trades. Even though most of those rumors centered around a couple of teams, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed there was another championship contender in the mix.

Do you go for a landmark player, do you try to look into Giannis Antetokounmpo, do you look at Kevin Durant? On Kevin Durant, I will say this, there was some mutual interest between Kevin Durant and the Knicks at the trade deadline. The Knicks made an offer for Kevin Durant.

Shams Charania said on NBA Countdown

The fact that Charania revealed there was mutual interest between the Eastern Conference Finalists and the 15-time All-Star is enough to confirm that the superstar was willing to move. Just that the trade did not happen.

Kevin Durant could have helped Jalen Brunson and Knicks reach NBA Finals

The New York Knicks majorly relied on Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as the primary scoring options in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges were supposed to provide major help, but both could not replicate their second round heroics.

Kevin Durant could have given the New York Knicks another major scoring option
Kevin Durant could have given the New York Knicks another major scoring option (Image via NBA Spain/X)

Had Kevin Durant been a part of that rotation, he would have helped share the burden a lot more. The Slim Reaper would have added another dimension to the Knicks’ offense that would have made it harder for the Pacers to counter.

Two elite scorers are good, three are great, and usually difficult to defend. The Pacers played team basketball to upset the Knicks, but it would not have been enough if Durant had been pulling up his famous fadeaway jumpers.

Kevin Durant calls out Stephen A. Smith’s ‘dramatic’ reaction to Team USA vs World All-Star format

Considering how active Kevin Durant is on social media, he might be aware of all the gossip surrounding his future. He is also keeping his beef with former teammate Kendrick Perkins alive in the most bizarre fashion possible. At the same time, he is also aware of the latest developments in the NBA.

Most notably, Commissioner Adam Silver‘s acceptance that there would be some form of a Team USA vs World game at the 2026 NBA All-Star weekend. However, it is the reaction of Stephen A. Smith that caught the 36-year-old’s attention.

Smith was quoted as saying that if this Team USA vs. World format fails, the NBA might do away with the All-Star weekend. He believes the current generation will be to blame for that debacle. Kevin Durant found this to be an overtly dramatic reaction towards something that needs a lot of tweaking than just another format.

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