At this point, everyone around the league believes that Kevin Durant will be traded this summer, with the Minnesota Timberwolves being a dark horse candidate.
Timberwolves Are Dark Horse Candidate For Kevin Durant Trade
Most reports from Phoenix indicate that Durant’s days with the franchise are numbered. The Suns tried to trade their star at the deadline. They even went behind his back, which might have hampered the relationship between the star player and the organization. Now, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst believes the Timberwolves can pull off a Durant trade.
Speaking on Get Up, he said, “Another small-market team to watch: Minnesota Timberwolves. Ant Edwards and KD have a very tight connection, also, from the Olympics. The Timberwolves tried to pull off a crazy trade at the deadline for KD. Look for them to revisit those talks this summer.”
Timberwolves Need Julius Randle’s Help for a Kevin Durant Trade
If the Timberwolves want to steal Durant from the Suns, they will need help from one of their players. Because they are over the second apron, they cannot aggregate contracts. So, first, they need to get under the second apron, and then, they need to combine enough salary to get to the $54 million the superstar forward will make next season.
There is appeal in trading for Durant. Despite being 36, he is averaging 26.9 points, the fifth-most in the NBA. He is also a close friend of Anthony Edwards, who said that Durant is his favorite player of all time.
But for this trade to become a reality, Minnesota needs Julius Randle to opt into his player option for next season. If he does, he will make $31 million, a huge salary they can use in a Durant trade. They will still have to add other players and throw-ins, but they can make the salaries work.
Next, they have to entice the Suns with enough draft picks. They have a first-round pick, 1-13 protected from the Detroit Pistons in this year’s draft. They also have a second-round pick from the Utah Jazz, which might be in the early 30s. The Timberwolves have a couple of more picks, including their own in 2028 and 2029.
Edwards Would Love to Have Durant As a Running Mate
Edwards has talked about how Durant is the GOAT in his eyes. He inspired him to become an NBA player. During the Paris 2024 Olympics, their brotherhood took on a story of its own. Pairing these two together will be a dream come true for the young superstar.
For Durant, Minnesota offers the possibility of competing for a third title. He tried with Devin Booker, another young star, but they didn’t succeed. He will have a more complete roster in Minnesota, which he lacked in Phoenix. The problem is that plenty of other teams will try to get him.
After losing to the Timberwolves in the 2024 playoffs, Durant said Edwards is his favorite player to watch in the league. It seems like these two are destined to play together.
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