Coming off the heels of reports that the Suns might work with Kevin Durant to find a trade this summer, it’s worth keeping tabs on the Timberwolves as a potential partner. The Wolves reportedly explored making a move for Durant at the trade deadline this year, going so far as to call potential partners about ways to shed salary to get under the second apron so that they aggregate money to go and get the 15-time All-Star.
Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up, NBA insider Brian Windhorst speculated that the Timberwolves should be expected to revisit talks for Durant this summer (hat tip to RealGM).
As Windhorst observes, Minnesota star Anthony Edwards and Durant have a good relationship stemming from last year’s Olympics. The Wolves, like most teams across the league, will have more flexibility and roster spots to pursue a potential move this summer.
For Phoenix’s part, Durant’s future with the Suns continues to be brought into question. The Warriors reportedly tried to acquire Durant this deadline as the Suns looked to acquire Jimmy Butler in a move that would have forced Phoenix to move either Durant or Devin Booker due to being over the second apron. With limited future assets, it makes sense that the Suns will look to retool a roster that’s on the outside looking in of the postseason.
Despite the noise, Durant continues to be focused on getting the Suns back into playoff contention, showing passion and speaking up for his coach and teammates.
KD might be the dumbest person alive if he okays a trade to the forever-cursed TWolves, but denies one to the team he has 2 chips with.
I think it’s pretty obvious that Durant has a rift with someone on the team which is why he wouldn’t ok a deal…my guess is draymond with absolutely zero sources to confirm. At this point in his career, if he wanted to title chase he could take the minimum and go back to OKC
He himself said he just didnt want to get traded mid-season and it had nothing to do with any person on GSW.
Hahaha, Durant never lies, right?
I’m fairly certain KD has been quoted as saying to his agent after signing with the warriors “why did you let me ruin my life.”
To this day the media still criticizes him for making the move to GS and now when those warrior teams are mentioned a ton of the talk is about how its shows what a great winner Steph is because he won before and after Durant. Which has enough truth to it while leaving out the fact that KD was the best player on those teams that it likely infuriates KD. And KD is petty enough to not want to play there because of that narrative.
Would not be surprising at all if he has no interest in playing for GS again.
It’s obviously Draymond…
They may of squashed their beef…
KD is just too smart to want to go deal with that head case again…
Plus there’s been too many nother burgers from Green… KD doesn’t want to carry a team…
Tough pairing , they’d need a 3rd party first off and even if they could pull off the machinations it almost certainly cost them NAW or NAZ walking for free to do so amongst the send out salaries
If I’m Minny I’m just paying the bill next year ( surely apron 2) by resigning Naz and Naw and then the year after Randle an Conleys 40 m falls off and they will be much more flexible
Rain Delay, exactly right according to what I read…
To land KD, Minny would send out Jaden McDaniels and (after he exercises, as expected) Randall to Phoenix. And NAW and NAZ are gone.
McDaniels is one piece that Phoenix wanted last summer, he has 4 more years at $25M. Assuming Randall exercises at $30M, he and McDaniels together match KD’s salary.
Like you suggest, NAW is an unrestricted free agent, should get $15M-$20M, and supposedly Minny expects to lose him for nothing. NAZ will cost $25M-$35M, way too rich for Minny, so he’s gone. Thus, Minny gets some cap space.
But Phoenix would also want a lot of draft capital on top of McDaniels and Randall. I don’t see it.
They can get KD and keep NAZ. But at this point I wouldn’t give up mcdaniels for Durant
Trade Randle for anything. Other than Broken Lazy Embiid.
Games where Randle plays this year wolves are playing at a 55 win pace
If KD wants in, then I’d want out if I’m Ant-man. Any team KD plays for is a sinking ship.
Except for the warriors
Any team KD plays for *since he left Golden State* is a sinking ship.
Given the craziness of the Butler and Luka deals…
It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that KD is traded straight up for Ant…
Crazier things have happened…
Nope. Old man for young man with no injury or diet problems like BK Luka.
Mavs called about ant. If they aren’t trading ant for Luka they aren’t trading him for KD
Charles Barkley has only 2 teams — Suns and 76ers
Both teams are not fixable for the next 3 years.
By comparison, 76ers are more fixable than Suns because they are in the East.
KD doesn’t have a no trade clause. Next yr is his last yr on his contract. So Suns can make best deal. Which is what they should do. Suns have blown up this team already. Most of it for KD. They don’t owe him. They owe their franchise and fan base.
KD at this point. Would want to go somewhere to contend. Soooo all teams who fit that. One of them will offer real value. Its the smart move. I can see Minny getting in there.
He does have a trade clause. Which means the wolves could get him for less like the spurs did with fox