During the NBA trade deadline, some Kevin Durant trade rumors linked the Suns’ star to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A new report has surfaced about just how serious the Wolves were about trying to land Durant. Jake Fischer recently revealed that once Durant refused a Warriors trade, the Wolves were aggressive in trying to find a way to get him onto the team. Although the trade didn’t go through, the Wolves have now shown their cards. They want KD. Could there be a Durant-Wolves trade this offseason?
Will the Timberwolves Make An Offseason Trade For This Star?
The Suns May Have Messed Up
The Suns may be in trouble. They shopped their best player over the trade deadline, possibly without his consent, and didn’t get a deal done. They are now in a tough position. Not only is the team not meeting expectations, they may have soured their relationship with their best player. For now, the Suns decided to roll with what they had and see if they could make a playoff run. At 27-30, sitting outside of the Play-In Tournament picture, it could be an uphill battle.
Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
Putting Durant in trade talks was a risk. After this season, he only has one year left on his contract, making him a potential flight risk in two offseasons. The Suns will likely come to a crossroads with Durant before that. No team wants to lose their star for nothing in free agency, so if Durant wants out of Phoenix, they need to trade him this offseason.
During a recent interview with Malika Andrews, Durant spoke about the trade rumors, and he mentioned that he wanted to finish out the season with the Suns. He did not mention however that he wanted to finish out his contract there.
Should the Timberwolves trade for Durant?
The Timberwolves have made it clear they have an interest, and they’d be foolish to not try and get Durant to Minnesota. Pairing Durant with his Olympic teammate, Anthony Edwards, would be a match made in heaven. Two elite scorers who can take over any given game could make the Timberwolves title contenders once again.
The Wolves however need to weigh the possibility of Durant signing an extension in Minnesota. They could trade for him on a one-year rental, but if he isn’t willing to extend, it may not be worth the risk. Right now, the Timberwolves are coming off a 2023-25 season where they were a few wins away from an NBA Finals appearance. Although they have taken a step back this year, getting back to what they were doing in 2023-24 may be smarter than taking a risky swing for an aging star.
If there is a Durant-Wolves trade this offseason, Minnesota needs to make sure they can extend him. Having at least two seasons to figure out the chemistry between Durant and Edwards as well as what type of team they could build around them would be essential. If he’s not willing to extend, the Wolves shouldn’t take the risk. They are still just a couple of minor moves and the continued growth of Edwards away from being back as one of the best teams in the West.
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