ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith recently criticized the New York Knicks for not showing interest in Kevin Durant. He spoke on ESPN’s “First Take” after news broke that the Phoenix Suns were open to trading Durant. Smith said, “Anybody that has a speck of knowledge about the game, you can’t justify not wanting KD on your squad.”
Durant, who is 36 years old, averaged 26.6 points per game last season and ranked sixth in NBA scoring. Even though he played well, the Suns had a disappointing season. Part of their problem was Bradley Beal’s large contract. Beal signed a five-year deal worth $251 million, which made it harder for the team to make changes.
With their options limited, the Suns are now reportedly trying to trade Durant. According to a report from Athlon Sports, Durant wants to leave Phoenix, and when you combine that with his age, it weakens the Suns’ position in trade talks.
- ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins harshly criticized the Knicks for dismissing Kevin Durant’s interest in joining the team.
- The Suns may be forced to lower their trade demands for Durant due to his age and desire to leave, which could favor teams like the Knicks and Heat.
- The Knicks are in coaching turmoil as a top head coach candidate exits, intensifying the franchise’s ongoing leadership and credibility issues.
Smith Blames James Dolan for Knicks’ Lack of Interest
Stephen A. Smith believes that Knicks owner James Dolan is the main reason the team is not pursuing Durant. On First Take, Smith said Dolan’s personal issues may have influenced the front office’s decision. He didn’t name specific events but referred to the behavior as “pettiness.”
Smith strongly suggested that Dolan’s personal feelings outweighed good basketball judgment. He implied that passing on a player of Durant’s skill level, especially one still producing at a high level, makes little sense unless personal motives are involved.
Smith Also Supports Mark Jackson as Head Coach
In the same First Take episode, Smith also supported Mark Jackson as the next head coach of the Knicks. Jackson coached the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2014. During his time there, he helped build the team that would later become champions.
Smith said that current Warriors coach Steve Kerr “piggybacked off of that,” meaning Kerr used the base Jackson created. Smith also pointed out that Jackson is from New York City and could be the kind of strong voice the team needs right now.
So far, the Knicks have not decided on hiring a new coach and Jackson is not officially in the running, but Smith thinks he would be a good fit for the job.
Kendrick Perkins Strongly Disagrees With Knicks’ Choice
Kendrick Perkins, another ESPN analyst and former NBA player, also criticized the Knicks for not going after Durant. On the same show, he said, “The Knicks are being disrespectful saying ‘no interest.’ Who the hell are you?” He added that the team has not won anything in 52 years and questioned how they could turn down “one of the greatest scorers to ever touch the damn basketball.”
Perkins compared Durant to Karl-Anthony Towns, whom the Knicks were reportedly considering in trade talks. According to Perkins, Durant is clearly the better player. Last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Towns averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Durant also had more blocks than Towns, even though he plays forward while Towns plays center.
Perkins said the Knicks might be favoring Towns because of personal relationships, not because he is a better player. He explained, “It’s not just about the business. It’s about the personal relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns.” He clarified that if the team cared only about improving, they would choose Durant instead.
Phoenix Suns May Lower Their Asking Price
While all of this is going on, the Phoenix Suns are trying to trade Kevin Durant. According to a report from the Arizona Republic, the Suns might have to lower what they’re asking in return.
The report says, “The Suns have ‘no leverage’ in part because of Durant’s age. And because he wants to start fresh elsewhere.”
The Suns want to make a trade before the NBA Draft on June 25–26. They hope to get draft picks as part of any deal. But because other teams know Durant wants to leave, they are not offering much.
Sources also said Durant would not be happy going back to Phoenix after the team already looked at trading him earlier this year. This means teams might wait to see if the Suns drop their demands.
Knicks and Heat Could Be Back in the Picture
Earlier this year, in February, the Knicks discussed a potential trade with the Suns for Durant. However, reports say the Suns were not excited about a deal that included Karl-Anthony Towns. After that, the Knicks stepped away from talks.
Now, if Phoenix lowers its asking price, the Knicks might come back, and the same goes for the Miami Heat. Durant reportedly wants to play in Miami, but the Heat may not have the best trade package.
Unless they include All-Star Tyler Herro, the Heat’s offer may not be enough, though they could make the deal stronger by adding Kel’el Ware, a young player that Phoenix is said to be interested in.
Other teams still in the mix include the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. Durant has shown interest in both teams. He reportedly turned down interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Coaching Search Gets More Complicated
As the trade talks continue, the Knicks are also dealing with problems in their coaching search: a top candidate has recently dropped out. The team has not said who it was, but this makes the search even harder.
The Knicks have had many coaches over the past years and little stability. Losing a leading candidate makes it tougher to bring in someone who can lead the team. This adds a ton of weight to the front office’s shoulders, especially with the season coming up and so many decisions still to be made.
Right now, there is no clear favorite for the coaching job. Smith continues to support Mark Jackson, but the team has not announced anything yet.
