Golden State Warriors: 5 realistic three-team trades involving Kevin Durant

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 02: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Warriors defeated the 76ers 120-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 02: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Warriors defeated the 76ers 120-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

No. 3

These last three trades will all feature Kevin Durant going to the New York Knicks. ESPN’s NBA Insider, Brian Windhorst, said on Get Up that Durant could force a sign-and-trade as it is the best option for both parties. Their main trade partner would be the Knicks.

That said, here’s the first of three trades. In this deal, the Knicks would snag Durant and dish out two first-round picks, three second-round picks and Kevin Knox. After a stellar summer league, the hype surrounding Knox has cooled off, so it’d take a haul of picks to attract Durant.

The Cavaliers are the third team in this trade. They’d dish out Love and return Knox and a first. They’d get the best first-round pick, setting them up a top-five pick in the 2020 draft. Knox, that pick, Sexton, Garland and another top-five pick in the 2020 draft would be a GREAT rebuild.

For Golden State, they get to continue to compete. They could spread the court with Love and create a death lineup that features Love, Curry, Thompson, Green and Iguodala. It’s not as lethal as Durant’s death lineup, but it would be a championship-level five.