“I’m really getting disgusted with this organization right now… I’m looking at the New York Knicks. Where’s the identity?”, said Stephen A. Smith recently after the Knicks’ overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks. In the ESPN sportscaster’s own words, he has been a “die-hard” fan of the franchise for quite a long time. Therefore, it raises questions when Smith isn’t satisfied even as the NY franchise was off to its best start, at 36-18, and third overall in the Eastern Conference. Although the Knicks may be performing well in the regular season, are they championship contenders? Not in Smith’s eyes, unless they got a star veteran to join and help out Karl-Anthony Towns.
In a recent segment of ‘The Stephen A. Smith’ show, the 57-year-old touched base on Kevin Durant’s potential acquisition by the New York Knicks! Smith realizes that the same can’t be a reality. After all, “You got to trade for him, and they gave up too much assets. As much as I love Mikal Bridges, five first-round picks. If the Knicks could have given up three, they could have had a couple of first round picks to give to the Phoenix Suns, and got KD before the trade deadline”. Smith warmed up to the idea of a potential Kevin Durant trade to Madison Square Garden. At the same time, however, he does not want to see the trade if it costs two key players.
“I don’t give a damn he pass gas, I’d call it perfume if he was in a New York Knicks uniform, and I ain’t apologizing for it to anybody,” said Smith about Kevin Durant. “I’m telling you that right now, that’s how desperate I am for the Knicks to win a championship, that’s how desperate I am. And if KD came there, and Karl Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson didn’t have to leave in order for KD to get there, Knicks….. yeah, yeah. Cleveland, Boston, what? Bring em on. That’s how excited I would be, but I’m just fantasizing”.
The trio of Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jalen Bruson being together appealed to the sportscaster. After all, Smith feels that if they were together, “Your brother, Stephen A. Smith, would have been sitting up here talking about ‘We going win the champ’, ‘We going to win the champ’, that’s what I would have said. But that didn’t happen. That didn’t happen”.
Dec 15, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) makes the pass against the New York Knicks in the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Even as Smith gave out his “disgusted” remark, he praised Karl-Anthony Towns for doing “special things”. He appreciated Jalen Brunson for “balling out”. You can’t go after Karl-Anthony Towns when he has been averaging his all-time high rebounds of 13.4 along with 24.7 points, and 3.3 assists. Meanwhile, with his average score of 26.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, Jalen Brunson continues highlighting his importance to the league. Therefore, getting Durant would make no sense if it came at the expense of cutting ties with the other two-star players.
However, the Suns may not want to send their 4-year, $194.2 million contract wielder to the Knicks. After all, if the player has to be sent somewhere else, a target location is already in mind.
Will $194.2 million worth Kevin Durant be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves?
The recent All-Star Weekend brought with it some memorable moments. And no, we are not talking about Druski being ‘upset’ over losing the MVP award. However, one such moment was Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant reuniting after their Paris Olympics stint last year. The Minnesota Timberwolves‘s X account even highlighted the superstar duo sharing a handshake and spending time together in San Francisco. For many, it was a wholesome thing to admire. Others, however, look at the pictures and imagine a potential trade deal between the Timberwolves and the Suns.
The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski had previously reported on the Timberwolves’ potential trade talks with the Suns. Now, he put forward the possibility that Edwards and Durant may have discussed the trade rumors involving their teams. The reporter said on his podcast, “We saw some video of him and KD hanging out, spending time together — they are good buddies. I’m sure that they spoke a lot and enjoyed each other’s company. I would not be surprised at all if Ant was saying, ‘Hang in there, big guy, we’re coming. We’re going to make a run at you again this summer.”
Ant KD pic.twitter.com/xGP9B7e1UN
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 15, 2025
KD and Edwards are more than good buddies. The veteran is someone who the 23-year-old looks up to since he idolized the ‘Slim Reaper’ while growing up. When Kevin Durant was once asked about the player who brings out the best in him, he replied, “I’d say Ant. Just because of his energy every day. The pace that he plays at. The pace that he works out at. The s— that he talks. He gives everybody energy.” Therefore, a team-up between these two players can bring back the charm for the Timberwolves, which was lost after Karl-Anthony Towns’ trade. Furthermore, it would certainly bring out a reaction from Stephen A. Smith, whose desires would end up being completely ignored.
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