It is quite appetizing to have the opportunity to acquire a former league MVP who was also an NBA Finals MVP and a 15-time All-Star.
That’s the scenario Minnesota could find itself in with Kevin Durant.
The Phoenix Suns are widely expected to trade Kevin Durant, potentially before the draft. With all the excitement and good that would come with a Durant trade, it would also put the Wolves in anxiety-filled “title-or-bust” territory with a smaller contention window.
After appearing in back-to-back Western Conference Finals, the Wolves have established themselves as a legitimate contender. While many view Durant as a move that would put Minnesota over the top, it’s worth remembering they’ll have to give to get, and the give part is important to the team’s timeline.
Durant will be 37 in September, and whoever trades for the superstar sends a clear message to their roster that the goal is title or bust.
Phoenix’s mega star has one year left on his current deal and will be on the books for $54 million. Given the price to acquire the “Slim Reaper,” it’s not unreasonable to expect that whoever lands Durant would want to work out an extension swiftly.
Now look at Minnesota’s situation.
Anthony Edwards is 23 years old and the head of the snake in Minnesota. As long as Edwards is with the Wolves, they will always have a shot.
They’ve littered the rest of their core with players in their prime, like Julius Randle (30), Rudy Gobert (32), and Donte DiVincenzo (28), or those entering their prime like Jaden McDaniels (24) and Naz Reid (25).
While Durant is still playing at the highest of levels, he’s well into the back nine of his career. He’s in the fairway on hole No. 17. The end is near.
To draw another comparison to a superstar who’s been whispered about this offseason, let’s look at Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo is 30. If the Milwaukee Bucks were to trade him, the team acquiring Giannis knows the window is still wide open for the years to come, given his age.
With Durant, you’re talking about a two- maybe three-year window to pounce and win a title. Anything less would be viewed as a disappointment, especially for Minnesota, which is coming off two straight conference title appearances.
That isn’t to suggest Minnesota should be scared away from doing business and trying to land Durant if Tim Connelly and Co. deem it the best path for the Wolves to reach the promised land. What you’re juggling is whether or not trading for Durant is the best plan of attack, realizing that trading for Durant raises the bar to an unprecedented level, with a short gap to capitalize.
Furthermore, any trade for Durant would involve parting ways with valuable pieces of the core in place.
Zach Lowe recently discussed what a deal with Minnesota could look like on his podcast with Michael Pina. Pina suggested sending Gobert, DiVincenzo, and Rob Dillingham to the Suns and bringing Durant to Minnesota.
The Minnesota situation is very complex because there are aprons involved for them, Lowe said. They have these three outgoing free agents in Randle, Naz Reid, and (Nickeil) Alexander-Walker. You threw in Dillingham, I think they would just be loathed to do that. I am going Naz Reid at the five, and we’re not going to care about defense at all anymore because we have such scoring prowess.
A three-for-one not only slices deeply into Minnesota’s depth but also gashes into the defense, with Gobert’s anchor gone.
Durant isn’t a traffic cone on defense, but he hasn’t had an impact near that end of the court.
Again, a trade for Durant requires giving up valuable puzzle pieces. Still, the larger picture would be Minnesota getting a 37-year-old who probably has two good years left.
It wouldn’t leave the Wolves much wiggle room outside of banking on that they could retool again around Edwards as the focal point if they can’t win a ring with Durant in the mix.
Raising expectations isn’t a bad thing. Lofty goals are often set for those who many believe can achieve them.
Minnesota has put itself on the map with a budding superstar in Edwards and has made the conference finals two years in a row.
Durant could put them over the top. It could also backfire in a major way.
What isn’t in question is that going for Durant and securing him would create an all-in move by the Wolves that shrinks that championship window — for now — to about two or three years.
Now we wait to see if they take that risk.