It appears the New York Knicks are going all in on making big moves in the upcoming offseason. News broke on Thursday afternoon that the Knicks were trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks, with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee included in the deal. That trade signaled that the Knicks were pulling themselves out of the running for Anthony Davis, but also helped them shed a lot of money for the summer.

The decision to move on from Porzingis seemed hasty, even considering the rumors that he was losing trust in the organization. With a return of Dennis Smith Jr., expiring contracts, and two future protected first-round picks, it’s hard to call New York the winner in this deal. However, as Zach Lowe of ESPN pointed out, the reason the Knicks made the move could be in part because of intel regarding Kevin Durant.

Durant is the prime free agent target of the Knicks for the upcoming summer, clearing that cap space was a big help in landing him. New York can now pay KD max money as well as give him the opportunity to bring another star, such as Kyrie Irving or Klay Thompson to the Big Apple with him for a max contract as well.

The Knicks have faced struggles over the last few seasons and haven’t seen the postseason since 2013 but bringing in a name like Kevin Durant could be a remedy to their recent woes. Although Madison Square Garden hasn’t been a free agent destination for a little while now, Anthony Davis’ serious consideration to playing in New York if he were traded is a big sign that players around the league are aware of the potential the franchise has. New York remains one of the best markets in the league and is absolutely hungry for a star.

Trading Porzingis has left many puzzled, but if the Knicks find a way to end the summer with Kevin Durant and another star on the roster, it’s easy to believe that all will be forgiven.