The Timberwolves were aggressive in trying to land Kevin Durant before last month’s trade deadline, but their offers to the Suns didn’t include Anthony Edwards or Jaden McDaniels, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Scotto’s sources say Minnesota wanted to build the deal around power forward Julius Randle and shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo, both of whom were acquired from New York last October in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
The Wolves are expected to continue their pursuit of Durant this summer, but Randle would have to pick up his $30.9MM player option before he could be included in trade talks. Scotto notes that Minnesota has won the last 11 games in which Randle has played, while DiVincenzo, who is signed through the 2026/27 season, is shooting 39.4% from three-point range and averaging a career-best 3.7 assists per game.
It’s worth noting that the Wolves were operating more than $16MM above the second tax apron and Durant’s $51.2MM salary is about $7MM more than Randle and DiVincenzo combined, so they would have needed to trim over $20MM in additional salary to make the deal possible, since teams above the second apron can’t aggregate salaries.
Assuming Rudy Gobert was also off the table, Minnesota would have needed to part with either Naz Reid and Mike Conley or Reid and several lower-paid players. At least one additional team would have been necessary because Phoenix is also over the second apron and couldn’t take back more salary than it sent out in any deal.
Any version of the trade would have been difficult to complete without including McDaniels’ $23MM salary. The 24-year-old forward is averaging 12.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season and is an important part of Minnesota’s defense.
The Suns expressed interest in Reid during trade talks, sources tell Scotto. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has a $15MM player option for next season that he’s expected to decline, but the Wolves intend to sign him to a long-term deal, Scotto’s sources add.
Wolves digging their own grave, death, and taxes. 3 things that will always be true.
Digging their own grave not trading a great young player on a team friendly deal for an aging star and lock room cancer
If they were going to trade Edwards they would have traded him for Luka. The team is building around Edwards and will never trade him at this time. Gobert would be traded before Edwards.
They had no idea Dallas was going to offer Luka lol they just rejected thinking it would be everyone but Luka. Your comment implies they rejected a Luka-Ant trade.
Mavs did ask about Anthony Edward for Luka. It was discussed but not sure if it was a 1 for 1 trade.
Mavs would’ve needed to throw. In 5 firsts for an out of shape baby like Luka.
arc89, you keep on referring to *rumors* as if they are *fact*.
There will always be competing stories from the various teams and agents. What “sources” tell reporters is very often what a team or agent *wants* people to believe, not what is true.
When “sources” said Klay Thompson had 4 teams waiting to pay him more than $25M, was that true? Or how about when “sources” said that the trade discussions between the Warriors and Miami had been permanently ended? Etc, etc.
put it in a search engine if you don’t believe me. It only said that the Mavs asked about Edwards right before trading him to the Lakers. Did not say if there were other players. It also depends on who the source is. It was reported here and the source was the athletic. i was just mentioning that if the T-wolves wanted to trade Edwards. So you must not believe anything by Sam Amick who claimed that.
arc89 , you missed my point: these are not “facts” that you keep referring to. They are “rumors” — 2nd and 3rd hand reports for which conflicting reports may also exist. Search engines find words, not facts.
Sam Amick would never say that EVERYTHING he gets from “sources” is factually true. Same with Shams Sharania. (Look at the Klay and Butler reports before those transactions. They were factually incorrect.) The “sources”, especially agents, often use the media to advance their interests.
What you CAN say about Amick and Shams is that their reports are true more often than not.
Almost everything on this site is just a rumor. More likely true since Edwards is one of the top 3 young players in the league. I can’t imagine AD would be the Mavs first choice trading Luka.
It’s pointless…
Davey is happy having Butler on their team…
Reid will be a popular FA this summer. The Wolves will have a lot of competition to sign him.
Unfortunately not enough teams have cap space any longer to have a lot of teams in on a guy at his level.
All it takes is one. Brooklyn could use him.
True
Naz is gone unless they can move Randle.
Naz will get $35M/yr. Too much for Minny.
I think we’ll try and move Randle and others before letting go of Naz if possible. Naz isn’t just important to the team he is LOVED by the City! Doesn’t stop owners from making stupid decisions (aka Luka trade) but I’m hoping we keep him.
They’re not dealing Randle to keep Naz. That makes no sense. Randle is an all-nba level player. They’ve won how many in a row since Randle is back in the lineup..?
Naz is a better fit for the team than Randle. It’s not like Randle won those games himself. Naz is a big part of those games and has improved a lot over the past couple years. He’s also young and fits Ant’s timeline more. Makes more sense to keep him. He doesn’t clog the lane as much and can play center or PF.
No Randle sucks. He has 5 turnovers every game and sucks on defense. I’ll take Naz over that guy any day. Randle will pick up his option because he isn’t worth half of its value.
In college he was called the next KD …..
He’s starting to peak as a player now. Looks like a teal good 2way player with size. This type of player is the new NBA.
You don’t trade Jaden on that contract…
You just don’t…
Ant is an option only if you have the other pieces to make a run at the title next season… And only under that circumstance…
A Rod is destroying this team
So when is the ownership change going to happen?
I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying in the context of this article. Twolves are finally getting healthy are on a 6 game win streak and are in a great position to move up in the standings with only 6 winning teams left on the schedule.
We’ve got to keep our core of Ant, Jaden & Naz together. Hope we can hold onto Naz in the off season. We’re finally starting to figure things out post-KAT now. All the injuries this year haven’t helped us any. Hopefully we’ll find our footing now.
Since the return of Randle, Gobert and DiVincenzo from injury the team is looking really dangerous. They should be able to move up to at least 5 as the injured Lakers fall.
The Warriors are playing better, so unless you think Houston or another team is also falling Minnesota would be 6th.
Warriors are playing good too. They are neck and neck in the standings. Neither team has much room for error. It may come down to the last few games of the season. We’ll see.
As much as I am not a fan of Ant’s attitude this is the correct take…
Gobert, Randle and the other pieces are expendable…
NAW would be someone I’d put on that keepers list as well… As they have more to show now they’ve found their footing in the NBA…
Agreed. NAW was a nice pick up for us. He was basically a throw-in from the Jazz. He’s turned out to be a nice role player for us. I hope he can stick with us too.
So interesting how KAT is worth Julius Randle but Jaden isnt worth Kevin Durant lol
It’s not that simple. Of course KD is the best player of all of those. KAT was making too much for us to keep him long term though as he is on a super max contract. Jaden isn’t. Jaden is also several years younger, isn’t as injury prone and plays elite D. KAT is by far the superior offensive player but the hope was that With Donte & Randle that need would be filled. We also get Detroit’s 1st round pick this year (top 13 protected which looks likely). KD is amazing and still playing at a high level but he is also extremely expensive and prone to injury. Ant is only 23 so we have to think about both the short and long term with him.
KAT is the reason the Timberwolves have Gobert…
Do you need anymore information?
You watched them play defense?
Donte plays the same position as Beal and Booker (and Grayson Allen). Phoenix has no interest there.
Phoenix’ defense sucks, they desperately want a young two-way player. McDaniel fits.
Get rid of Randle. He’s terrible. He shouldn’t even be in the league.
Hah, ok…