If KZ comes back healthy, Knox has a strong year and the Knix seem able to sort out the PG situation, we get a high draft pick, Knix might have a slight chance of landing KD.
I think in order for KD to come here, the following must happen:
- Ntilikina looks like an all-D type player with a passable enough offensive game to not be simply another MKG
- KP shows enough this year to give confidence he'll be an all-star again next year
- Knox goes for 20+ a few times, showing he can fill it up
- Lee comes back healthy, plays a bit, and is traded for a lump of coal expiring contract OR (less likely) Timmy is moved in a cap-clearing move
- Goodbye Baker, Mudiay, Kanter, Hezonja
- Vonleh sticks around, barely has a cap hold so no worries. Same with Dotson. And obviously Iso Zo
- Hardwood Mitch! remains a phenomenon (h/t Kam)
- Knicks players gush over Fiz
- Knicks get one of RJ, Little, or Reddish or another player with potential as both a defender and playmaker (don't think, say, Bol or Zion make sense around a Durant/Porzingis pair)
- Warriors win, but Lebron looks happy enough in LA that Durant sees the appeal of joining up with a bunch of kids and being king of the coast.