While Durant may have previously spurned the Knicks in free agency, New York gives him a better chance to chase championships than his current Nets do.

For a Knicks team loaded with draft picks, dumping them for Durant and getting out of purgatory in the East makes them a true title threat.

A starting five of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, Durant, Obi Toppin and Mitchell Robinson features plenty of scoring, and a bench of Quentin Grimes, Cam Reddish, Evan Fournier and Isaiah Hartenstein has talent with upside. Durant should be happy to get away from Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons and the uncertainty of the Nets' core, landing in a far more stable environment, especially with Brunson now at point guard.

Getting veterans like Randle (20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 45.6 percent shooting) and Rose help keep the Nets competitive while they navigate through a reset season, while Quickley gives the backcourt a young guard with upside with Kyrie Irving's tenure in Brooklyn likely coming to an end soon.

Brooklyn capitalizes on the 34-year-old Durant's strong start, netting four first-round picks.