The Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as a suitor for Kevin Durant, and pairing him with Anthony Edwards would instantly make the Wolves an much more harmful crew.
Kevin Durant is predicted to be the largest identify on the commerce block this offseason, barring an enormous announcement from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s but to ask for a commerce.
The Phoenix Suns, after it grew to become obvious that their huge three of Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker wouldn’t discover success, began procuring Durant, though they had been unable to get a deal achieved earlier than the 2025 commerce deadline.
The San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Miami Warmth have all been linked to Durant, though pairing him with Anthony Edwards on the Minnesota Timberwolves makes probably the most sense.
Within the 2024 NBA playoffs, Edwards and the Wolves despatched Durant and the Suns packing within the first spherical, and Edwards was seen speaking trash to the legend.
That appeared to set the stage for beef, though through the 2024 Paris Olympics, the place each Durant and Edwards had been stars for Group USA, it was clear that they’d nothing however respect for each other, and each are pure hoopers.
“USA basketball was an unimaginable time for them,” outlined Jay Williams. “You noticed their bond proceed to mature. Anthony Edwards doesn’t name any participant on this planet his favourite participant. He’s one of the vital aggressive dudes you’ve ever met. He’ll name KD that.”
Edwards and Durant, regardless of each receiving their fair proportion of criticisms for the best way they carry themselves, don’t care in regards to the highlight or being marketable; they only need to play basketball.
On the identical crew, they may feed off of each other.
“KD and Ant-Man take advantage of sense, proper?” echoed Marcus Morris. “They’re each two gamers that simply talks about ball. All they need to do is hoop. Overlook all the opposite stuff. It’s nearly basketball.”
In a small market with minimal distractions, the pair might make a push for the primary Finals look in Timberwolves’ historical past. Markieff Morris agreed along with his brother and Williams, saying they might “for certain” win the West in the event that they added Durant.
Getting Durant to the Wolves is an enormous effort, since KD is owed $54.7 million subsequent season and the Wolves might want to match it.
The Suns have reportedly set the asking worth at a younger participant, matching wage, and three first-round picks for Durant, though they’ll possible carry that worth down, which is nice, for the reason that Wolves traded most of their picks for Rudy Gobert.
In an effort to make a deal work, Minnesota must be keen to surrender some key gamers, though if Julius Randle opts into the final 12 months of his contract, issues are simpler.
“They’ve Julius Randle, a pair different guys are making a major sum of money that you may match that up with,” Morris defined.
Zach Lowe cooked up a commerce that may ship Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, and Rob Dillingham to the Suns for Durant, though it stands to purpose that the Wolves wouldn’t eagerly surrender Gobert, Edwards, or Jaden McDaniels.
If Randle is added to the commerce package deal, the Wolves might simply make it work.
Full Mock Commerce Particulars
- Timberwolves obtain: Kevin Durant
- Suns obtain: Julius Randle, Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr.
On this deal, the Suns miss out on touchdown any draft picks, though they get win-now gamers like Conley, Randle, and DiVincenzo, who might maybe make a playoff run alongside Nick Richards, Booker, and Beal.
The Wolves, in the meantime, must be assured in Rob Dillingham’s capability to run level for Durant, Gobert, Edwards, and Jaden McDaniels.
This commerce opens up the chance to re-sign Naz Reid, though different groups just like the Spurs and Detroit Pistons will nonetheless be capable of supply more cash, though the Wolves would emerge as title frontrunners, even with their depth slashed.