REPORT: Knicks made deadline offer for Kevin Durant amid ‘mutual interest’

Shams Charania reported New York’s offer for KD, acknowledging mutual interest.

The New York Knicks made a trade offer for Kevin Durant at this past season’s trade deadline, according to a fresh report from ESPN insider Shams Charania.

Speaking ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, Charania said the Suns and Knicks engaged in talks and that “there was some mutual interest.”

“I will say this: there was a mutual interest between Kevin Durant and the Knicks at the trade deadline. The Knicks made an offer for Kevin Durant at the NBA trade deadline.

“There’s gonna be some level of changes to this Knicks roster. Now, do you go for a landmark player? Do you try to look into Giannis Antetokounmpo? Do you look at Kevin Durant?” — ESPN’s Shams Charania

Durant remained in Phoenix as the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals behind the All-Star duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Meanwhile, KD posted averages of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists with the Suns in 62 games last season, before an ankle injury ended his season. Phoenix missed the play-in, let alone the playoffs, this season.

In 17 seasons, 15-time All-Star Durant has averaged 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 39.0 percent from three-point range.

Charania didn’t reveal any specifics on which Knicks players and/or picks were included in the trade offer sent Phoenix way, but the insider noted that New York may revisit its pursuit of a star this summer.

“We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks,” Charania said.

Durant, 36, is entering the final year of his contract, worth $54.7 million. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has already reported that Durant is expected to be traded, with the Suns ready to move on from the high-scoring supernova.

“Kevin Durant, I’m like 98 percent sure he’s not going to be a Sun next year.

“How it works out? I’m about one percent sure. There’s going to be a number of teams interested, but some of it is going to depend on whether Durant is a player they keep on a one-year contract or they want to give him a contract extension, which I suspect he’s going to want.” — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst

While the Knicks lack the draft capital to pursue someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo, a deal for Durant could be more viable, if only because of KD’s age and contract situation in what could become a rental move for the Knicks.

A swap involving Towns is the most obvious path considering the fitting salaries, but it’s reasonable to assume both franchises would object to that for one reason or another.

In any case, Charania’s report comes just days after the Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, which might have something to do with what’s coming or might have nothing to do with it, with Shams just click-farming and taking advantage of the Knicks news cycle to generate some non-Finals noise.

Charania also stated the obvious in saying that the Knicks are expected to make significant roster adjustments, mostly focused on adding depth to what can be considered a six-man roster at its current state.

“At the bare minimum, they’re going to have to add some more depth. That’s going to be the requirement of this team,” Charania said.