RealGM

Knicks receive Kevin Durant, Nikola Vucevic, #29, 2026 POR 1st (Lottery Protected) via CHI
(Out: Karl Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges)
Knicks clear up their long term cap, gain draft capital, and probably have a better on court product to show for it.
Top 8: Brunson, Hart, OG, KD, Vucevic, Robinson, McBride, Koleck

Bulls receive Karl Anthony Towns
(Out: Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins, Dalen Terry, #12, ‘26 POR 1st)
Bulls pivot and try to compete in a weak east. They are $40M+ under the tax after this trade and can easily add some win now pieces to their new core.
Top 8: Coby, Ayo, Matas, KAT, Smith, Hueter, Williams, Ball

Suns receive Mikal Bridges, Zach Collins, Dalen Terry, #12
(Out: Kevin Durant, #29)
Suns bring back Mikal and move up in the draft fulfilling their two KD trade priorities: A high end rotation piece and a lottery pick.
Top 8: Booker, Beal, Mikal, Dunn, Richards, Allen, ONeale, Martin

Knicks should cut out the Suns.

KAT for Vucevic, Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith, #12

Knicks get depth, salary relief and a lottery pick
Bulls "pivot" in a weak east

ReggiesKnicks wrote:Knicks should cut out the Suns.

KAT for Vucevic, Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith, #12

Knicks get depth, salary relief and a lottery pick
Bulls "pivot" in a weak east

Maybe, but the Teams not as good. If they are in their championship window they would prefer Durant. Plus with no extensions they are sitting at $112M in the summer of 2026.

I am unsure of how the Bulls shape up with KAT when he didn't get top the Finals with a talented Timberwolves roster and a bunch of big name players on the Knicks. I'm a little dubious about the Bulls exiting the first round while taking on one of the biggest contract in the trade while the Knicks and Suns retool. The Suns and Knicks NEED to move their stars the Bulls get invited to help them

I'm very sure Thibs doesn't want Vucevic as his center, and they give up two high profile guys they just got

sorry just saw that Thibs was fired
new coach may want to do something else


Giddey Ball resign Jones
White Dosunmu resign THT
KAT Smith
Buzelis Phillips
Williams Huerter

In my opinion, one of the KNICKS' biggest weaknesses in these playoffs has been Towns' defense at a crucial position. Trading him for another older, even slower, and less talented center only makes their problems worse...
how about that...

Towns/Tucker for KD/Dunn+29

Bridges/Robinson for Gobert/Clark

ChettheJet wrote:I am unsure of how the Bulls shape up with KAT when he didn't get top the Finals with a talented Timberwolves roster and a bunch of big name players on the Knicks. I'm a little dubious about the Bulls exiting the first round while taking on one of the biggest contract in the trade while the Knicks and Suns retool. The Suns and Knicks NEED to move their stars the Bulls get invited to help them

I'm very sure Thibs doesn't want Vucevic as his center, and they give up two high profile guys they just got

Giddey Ball resign Jones
White Dosunmu resign THT
KAT Smith
Buzelis Phillips
Williams Huerter

Thibs was fired

I would HATE to have Towns in Chi. He's a good player, but he has the ugliest game in the league for a star and I hate his whining face

But, would this work?
Collins/PWill/Ball or Ayo (NY choice)/#12/Port pick
Vuc could be in place of Collins, but Collins plays D. Vuc is very good on offense.

Bulls go with
White/Ayo or Ball
Giddey/Huerter
Matas/Terry
JSmith/Phillips
KAT/Vuc or Collins

Not bad, but would REALLY need Matas/JSmith to hold down the defense

Astaluego wrote:In my opinion, one of the KNICKS' biggest weaknesses in these playoffs has been Towns' defense at a crucial position. Trading him for another older, even slower, and less talented center only makes their problems worse...
how about that...

Towns/Tucker for KD/Dunn+29

Bridges/Robinson for Gobert/Clark

First, who is Tucker? Second, I don’t value Towns more than KD much less to throw in Dunn and a late first. Dunn looks pretty good.

jredsaz wrote:

Astaluego wrote:In my opinion, one of the KNICKS' biggest weaknesses in these playoffs has been Towns' defense at a crucial position. Trading him for another older, even slower, and less talented center only makes their problems worse...
how about that...

Towns/Tucker for KD/Dunn+29

Bridges/Robinson for Gobert/Clark

First, who is Tucker? Second, I don’t value Towns more than KD much less to throw in Dunn and a late first. Dunn looks pretty good.

PJ Tucke

Astaluego wrote:

jredsaz wrote:

Astaluego wrote:In my opinion, one of the KNICKS' biggest weaknesses in these playoffs has been Towns' defense at a crucial position. Trading him for another older, even slower, and less talented center only makes their problems worse...
how about that...

Towns/Tucker for KD/Dunn+29

Bridges/Robinson for Gobert/Clark

First, who is Tucker? Second, I don’t value Towns more than KD much less to throw in Dunn and a late first. Dunn looks pretty good.

PJ Tucke

Oof. Is he every under contract?

I think the Knicks need a defensive 5 as an option next to KAT (Hartenstein/Healthier Mitchell type), not to move him. Replacing him with Vucevic makes them a lot worse.

GatherStepGuru wrote:I think the Knicks need a defensive 5 as an option next to KAT (Hartenstein/Healthier Mitchell type), not to move him. Replacing him with Vucevic makes them a lot worse.

Knicks still have Mitchell. Vuc and Mitch can swap minutes depending on the game and the need.

jredsaz wrote:

GatherStepGuru wrote:I think the Knicks need a defensive 5 as an option next to KAT (Hartenstein/Healthier Mitchell type), not to move him. Replacing him with Vucevic makes them a lot worse.

Knicks still have Mitchell. Vuc and Mitch can swap minutes depending on the game and the need.

You can’t count on Mitch’s health.

Vuc is swiss cheese as far as D is concerned.

We need to acquire someone like Kessler if we are going to keep Towns and make Towns primarily a PF.

Move McBride… he’s not a pg. We have Kolek who has real potential. Give him those minutes.

Knicks365247 wrote:

jredsaz wrote:

GatherStepGuru wrote:I think the Knicks need a defensive 5 as an option next to KAT (Hartenstein/Healthier Mitchell type), not to move him. Replacing him with Vucevic makes them a lot worse.

Knicks still have Mitchell. Vuc and Mitch can swap minutes depending on the game and the need.

You can’t count on Mitch’s health.

Vuc is swiss cheese as far as D is concerned.

We need to acquire someone like Kessler if we are going to keep Towns and make Towns primarily a PF.

Move McBride… he’s not a pg. We have Kolek who has real potential. Give him those minutes.

Both Vuc and Mitchell have strengths and that’s why this trade works.

jredsaz wrote:

GatherStepGuru wrote:I think the Knicks need a defensive 5 as an option next to KAT (Hartenstein/Healthier Mitchell type), not to move him. Replacing him with Vucevic makes them a lot worse.

Knicks still have Mitchell. Vuc and Mitch can swap minutes depending on the game and the need.

Seems like youre underestimating the vast difference in class of player between Vucevic and KAT. The Knicks become a way worse team with Vuc.

And Mitchell cant stay healthy for a whole season, so they cant rely on that

GatherStepGuru wrote:

jredsaz wrote:

GatherStepGuru wrote:I think the Knicks need a defensive 5 as an option next to KAT (Hartenstein/Healthier Mitchell type), not to move him. Replacing him with Vucevic makes them a lot worse.

Knicks still have Mitchell. Vuc and Mitch can swap minutes depending on the game and the need.

Seems like youre underestimating the vast difference in class of player between Vucevic and KAT. The Knicks become a way worse team with Vuc.

And Mitchell cant stay healthy for a whole season, so they cant rely on that

I mean KD is still involved in this trade, right? Vuc and Mitchell can split minutes. Should make health an easier decision.