The recent trade of injured All-Star Kristaps Porzingis might have been seen as a massive cap-clearing move for the New York Knicks, creating speculation that is one they wouldn't have made unless they had ulterior plans for the future. Among them is targeting Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Teams around the league have already taken notice that this New York brass is feeling confident they have a great shot at ensnaring Durant in the summer, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.

“Some rival executives even reported that Knicks officials themselves have been expressing a very high level of optimism on this front,” wrote Amick.

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Trading the likes of Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke to the Dallas Mavericks gave the Knicks the salary cap space necessary to dole out two max salary slots they would need to pair Durant with another superstar. Maybe even Kyrie Irving.

Yet something hides among the smoke screens, as there is no smoke without fire.

It's unlikely for a tandem of president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry to trade away their lone established future cog for salary relief without a plan in place. And there is no purpose for a plan in place without probable cause to believe it will work.

However, this will be a saga that will slowly unfold and be pieced together in the offseason, with the NBA Draft Lottery and the draft itself playing a large part in the Knicks' next chess move.