What will the Phoenix Suns do when the New York Knicks call this summer about Kevin Durant?

It’s widely assumed that Phoenix is fully committed to trading KD this offseason, and the Suns will have plenty of suitors offering juicy packages.

Durant, who will be 37 before next season, is still playing at an All-Star level despite his age. It’s not outlandish to suggest that — if paired with another superstar — Durant could help a contender win a championship over the next 24 months.

Will that contender be the Knicks?

On a new episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast on Sunday, Simmons proposed an interesting trade: Durant for Karl-Anthony Towns.

“Towns for Durant,” Simmons proposed.

“The salaries actually work as a one-for-one (trade). Towns, if you remember, has a whole friendship history with (Devin) Booker. They've known each other since they were kids. They have the same agent.”

Despite this idea seeming attractive to a Knicks team that just fell short of their goal, the Suns might approach this proposal with caution. 

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Towns, a dominant offensive player who’s reached the Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons with different teams, brings undeniable talent as a second option. His friendship with Booker could foster chemistry in Phoenix, potentially rejuvenating the team’s core.

However, KAT’s contract is massive for a player who struggles defensively. Recent reports out of New York suggest Knicks coaches and players were frustrated all season long with Towns’ defensive lapses, a red flag for a Suns squad trying to establish a rock-solid culture under a new head coach.

Towns’s contract is a bit scary — he’s locked in at $53.1 million, $57 million, and $61 million over the next three years. Meanwhile, Durant’s contract is expiring. Simmons argued this could be Phoenix’s chance to pivot: “If you're the Suns, you don't have a lot of ways to get better … and Booker loves Towns, and I think they're still buddies. Is that a way to get outta the Durant business?”

The Suns’ front office likely believes Durant’s trade value exceeds a straight swap for Towns, which is bad news for the Knicks. 

A package with younger talent, draft capital, or more flexible contracts might better serve Phoenix’s goal of staying competitive in the brutal Western Conference. While the allure of pairing Booker with his childhood friend is tempting, Towns’ defensive issues and high salary could bog down the Suns’ roster construction without guaranteeing a leap toward a title.

Simmons’s proposal is intriguing, but the Suns may hold out for a better deal.

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