With NBA free agency heating up and front offices strategizing, the rumor mill has turned toward a seismic trade possibility involving the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks. Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns, two All-NBA-caliber stars on radically different timelines, are reportedly at the center of blockbuster trade discussions.
Kevin Durant’s Contract and Performance
Kevin Durant remains one of the most financially and statistically significant players in the league. His elite scoring and deep playoff experience have long made him a centerpiece for contending teams, but his price tag, age, and injury history raise questions for a team like Phoenix looking to recalibrate after a lost season.
The details of his deal and on-court production offer the best lens to evaluate how he fits into a trade conversation—especially if it means sending him to a younger, surging Knicks team ready to swing big.
Kevin Durant is locked into a massive four-year, $194.2 million contract signed in 2022 during his Brooklyn Nets tenure. That deal has carried over to Phoenix, where his financial presence is enormous. In the upcoming 2025-26 season, Durant’s base salary is $49,856,021, but with bonuses and tax penalties, his cap hit climbs to $51,179,021—making him one of the top-five highest-paid players in the league. With two years left on the deal after 2025, any team acquiring Durant must account for over $100 million more in committed salary.
In 62 games this season, Kevin Durant still played at an elite level, averaging 26.6 points per game on efficient shooting splits. He added six rebounds and 4.2 assists per contest, continuing to showcase his all-around game and elite shot creation, especially from the midrange.
Despite his personal output, the Suns faltered as a team, finishing the season with a 36-46 record and missing the playoffs—a dramatic disappointment for a team built around three max contracts.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ Contract and Performance
Karl-Anthony Towns, at 29 years old, represents both current star power and future flexibility. Having just finished his first year with the Knicks following a move from Minnesota, Towns has adjusted his game to fit a new team dynamic while producing elite numbers.
His new supermax extension is massive, but his age, playoff growth, and statistical consistency make him a tempting centerpiece in a long-term roster build—especially for Phoenix, where younger talent may be prioritized.
Towns is currently on a four-year, $220.4 million contract extension signed in 2022. That deal kicked in fully for the 2024-25 season, where he is owed $49,205,800.
Unlike Durant, who’s entering the back half of his career, Towns’ extension locks in a younger star through his prime years. He remains one of the league’s most expensive bigs, but his financial trajectory aligns more cleanly with franchises that aim to compete for the next five to seven years.
Towns’ 2024-25 Season Performance
Across 72 games in New York, Towns averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game—his best season since 2021.
In the playoffs, he continued to anchor the paint and space the floor, contributing 21.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game during the Knicks’ deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Towns proved his ability to impact games both inside and beyond the arc, and his synergy with Jalen Brunson helped elevate New York into a true contender.
Phoenix Suns’ Roster and Financial Situation
The Suns entered the 2024-25 season with a top-heavy roster and record-setting payroll. With Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal all earning near-max or supermax deals, Phoenix constructed a roster based on star-heavy top-end talent, but lacked reliable depth and flexibility.
After a losing season and a first-round exit the year prior, major financial and philosophical questions loom over their roster heading into the offseason.
Devin Booker is under a four-year, $220.4 million contract, the exact same extension that Towns received, illustrating the long-term investment Phoenix has already made in their backcourt.
Bradley Beal has two years remaining on his deal, and crucially, his contract contains a full no-trade clause—limiting Phoenix’s maneuverability. Grayson Allen and other role players are on smaller deals, but the core of this team is locked up through at least 2027.
The Suns’ total cap hit for the 2025-26 season stands at an unprecedented $214.3 million—by far the most expensive team in NBA history. When luxury tax penalties are included, their projected total payroll crosses $442 million.
Durant, Booker, and Beal alone account for $150.6 million combined, meaning over 70% of the team’s salary cap is dedicated to just three players. This level of financial strain makes every offseason move critical.
New York Knicks’ Roster and Financial Situation
New York has managed to balance talent acquisition with long-term flexibility, and their roster structure reflects a team that can make a move without imploding their cap sheet.
With cornerstone pieces like Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges under control, and Karl-Anthony Towns already integrated, the Knicks are one star away from serious title aspirations—and are exploring whether Durant is the right one.
Jalen Brunson made headlines recently by signing a contract extension far below market value. Instead of testing free agency in 2025 for a potential $46.5 million max salary, Brunson agreed to a new deal paying under $35 million per year.
This gives New York extra space to add another high-level piece like Durant. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are elite wing defenders with improving offensive games, while Josh Hart adds toughness and rebounding at the guard-forward spot.
Despite having a 2024-25 cap hit of $199.8 million—$45.1 million over the salary cap—the Knicks are still below the dreaded second apron.
This key detail allows them to utilize the $5.69 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, one of the few tools contending teams can still use to add depth. If they move Towns for Durant, the financial swap is nearly neutral, keeping them agile and compliant with current CBA rules.
Any deal between Phoenix and New York involving Durant and Towns would ripple across both franchises in immediate and long-term ways. Beyond the numbers and names, the basketball fit, age differences, and locker room dynamics could reshape each team’s identity. It’s not just a star-for-star deal—it’s a gamble on direction.
For Phoenix, moving Durant gives them a younger player entering his prime who still offers elite production. Towns would fit more naturally alongside Booker and Beal in terms of timeline, and his ability to stretch the floor opens the lane for guards to operate.
It would also marginally reduce their payroll and help with future tax penalties, even if it doesn’t drastically change their cap situation immediately.
For New York, acquiring Durant signals a full-on championship push. It means committing to a core that must win now, within a two-to-three-year window.
Durant’s playoff pedigree and clutch shot-making could be the final piece needed, but it also means giving up a younger, more durable star in Towns and absorbing Durant’s remaining $100M+ contract.
Motivations Behind the Trade
Understanding the rationale for both teams is essential to evaluating the feasibility and logic of a blockbuster like this. One franchise is trying to salvage a flawed superteam before the window slams shut. The other sees the rare opportunity to turn a corner and chase banner 18.
Phoenix’s motivation is clear: age, cost, and chemistry haven’t worked. Durant’s relationship with Booker has been solid, but not dominant. By shifting to Towns, they align timelines better, reduce some luxury tax strain, and possibly re-balance a roster that lacked size and interior scoring consistency.
The Knicks are betting on the power of superstardom. After seeing what Brunson and Towns could do, they now crave a closer, a playoff assassin—roles Durant has filled for years.
This move represents a calculated risk for immediate championship contention, despite the cost in age and contract length.
Knicks fans are torn: some see the appeal of Durant’s superstardom, while others worry about sacrificing youth and durability. Suns fans, meanwhile, are clamoring for a shake-up—many would embrace Towns for his rebounding and frontcourt dominance after a season of disappointing small-ball lineups.
Betting and Offseason Buzz
As the trade chatter grows louder, both fanbases are paying close attention not only to front office moves but also to betting markets shifting in real-time. The offseason may not have tip-offs and buzzer-beaters, but the stakes remain high—and bettors are responding.
As Suns fans speculate about roster changes and futures odds, many are tuning into the buzz through platforms offering Arizona sports betting promo codes, which make the offseason as exciting as game night.
In addition to the Durant-Towns rumor, the Knicks are reportedly exploring other moves to deepen their bench and add shooting. Their cap positioning gives them flexibility, and their playoff success has positioned them as an attractive destination for veteran role players.
Final Thoughts
Whether the Suns and Knicks finalize a trade involving Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns or not, the fact that such talks are being seriously considered speaks volumes about where each franchise stands.
Phoenix needs reinvention, while New York smells opportunity. It’s a rare moment where two teams can exchange stars without a clear loser—if the timing, health, and locker room chemistry align. One trade. Two futures. Countless consequences.
