The Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as Kevin Durant’s suitor, and if he pairs him with Anthony Edwards, he will soon make the Wolves even more dangerous team.
Kevin Durant is expected to be the biggest name in the trade block this offseason, except for a massive announcement from Giannis Antetocomo, who has not yet been seeking trades.
The Phoenix Suns have started shopping for Durant, despite not being able to trade before the 2025 trading deadline after it was revealed that their Big Three Durant, Bradley Beale and Devin Booker were unable to find success.
The San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Miami Heat are all linked to Durant, but combining him with Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves makes the most sense.
In the 2024 NBA playoffs, Edwards and the Wolves sent Durant and the Sands packing in the first round, with Edwards being seen telling the legend about garbage.
It seemed to set the beef stage, but it was clear that during the 2024 Parisio Games, when Durant and Edwards were both stars of Team USA, they respected each other and were both pure hoopers.
“American basketball was an incredible time for them,” Jay Williams outlined. “You saw their bond continue to mature. Anthony Edwards doesn’t call players from around the world his favorite players. He’s one of the most competitive guys you’ve ever met. He calls it KD.”
Don’t worry about the spotlight or marketability, despite Edwards and Durant receiving a substantial portion of criticism about the way they carry themselves. They just want to play basketball.
On the same team, they were able to feed each other.
“KD and Ant-Man make the most sense, right?” Echo Marcus Morris. “They are both two players who just talk about the ball. All they want to do is hoop. Forget everything else. It’s just basketball.”
In a small market with minimal distractions, the pair were able to compete in the first final in Timberwolves history. Markieff Morris agreed with his brother and Williams and said that if he added Durant, he would “certainly” win the West.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1qwrneptt4
Getting Durant for the wolves is a massive effort, as KD has $54.7 million in debt next season and wolves need to fit that.
The Suns set a asking price for the younger players, matching their pay, and set three first-round picks for Durant, but could lower that price as the wolves traded most of the picks for Rudy Gobert.
Things will be easier if Julius Randle chose last year for his contract, but Minnesota needs to be willing to give up some key players.
“They have Julius Randle. The other couples make a fair amount of money that you can match that,” Morris explained.
Zach Lowe cooked a deal that sent Goatbert, Donte Divinsenzo and Rob Dillingham to the Sands of Durant, but there’s a reason why the wolves wouldn’t give up on Goat, Edwards, or Jaden McDaniels eagerly.
If Randle is added to the trade package, the wolves can easily make it work.
Complete mock trade details
- Timberwolves Receise: Kevin Durant
- Suns Receim: Julius Randle, Mike Conley, Donte Divincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr.
On this contract, the Suns missed a draft pick landing, but will win players like Conley, Randle and Divincenzo.
Meanwhile, the wolves must be confident in Rob Dillingham’s ability to run the points for Durant, Gobert, Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
This deal opens up the possibility of re-signing Naz Reid, but other teams like Spurs and Detroit Pistons can still offer more money, but the wolves will still show up as the title frontrunner, even if their depth is gone.
