Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Owner Alex Rodriguez embrace after winning against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Playoffs.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have intensified their pursuit of Kevin Durant.
They are among the three serious bidders for the Phoenix Suns star, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Friday, June 13.
“There is some serious traction on conversations on trade scenarios with the Suns,” Charania said on Friday’s episode of the “Pat McAfee Show” in Indiana. “They’ve had about six to eight teams [who] reached out. There’s been interest, there’s been some offers. There have been some negotiations. But really, in the last 24 to 48 hours, I’m told, the focus of the Suns’ conversation has been on a few of the teams, and here they are: the Houston Rockets, the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves. I’m told those are the three teams right now where a lot of the focus for Durant lies.”
Previously, Charania reported that the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks have also expressed interest. But that seems no longer the case, as a Durant trade could happen “potentially even sooner than seven days,” according to Charania.
Kevin Durant Will Ease Anthony Edwards’ Burden
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Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns controls the ball against Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves are motivated to trade for Durant to get over the hump after falling short in the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons.
Durant, who will turn 37 this September, is still among the elite players in the league. The 15-time NBA All-Star averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 games.
Durant is aging gracefully, averaging at least 25 points, 50% shooting and 40% on 3-pointers in three straight seasons, the longest streak ever in the NBA, according to ESPN Research. He shot a league-best on jumpers (49.7%) and midrange shots (53.1%) that could ease the scoring burden on their young franchise star Anthony Edwards.
The 23-year-old Edwards also has a strong affinity for Durant.
The Timberwolves star admitted is his favorite player after sweeping the Suns in the first round of the playoffs last year.
“I felt bad a little bit, only because he’s my favorite player of all time,” Edwards said at the time. “I didn’t wanna send him home like that.”
They later teamed up in Team USA’s gold medal run in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Timberwolves Tried But Failed at Trade Deadline
The Timberwolves seriously pursued Durant at the trade deadline, according to Brian Windhorst, Charania’s colleague at ESPN.
“It became clear to me, talking to the parties involved, how serious the Wolves were in trading for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline,” Windhorst said on the “Hoop Collective” podcast on May 30. “They made some sort of progress [on a Durant trade]. Getting it done was impossible — they’re two second-apron teams — but after [Julius Randle and Naz Reid opt out this off-season] the Wolves will not be a second-apron team.”
Durant is owed $54.7 million next season and is on the final year of his current four-year, $190 million contract. Wherever he lands next, he will be eligible to sign a two-year, $112 million extension. If he waits six months after the trade, he could fetch more — $124 million over two years, according to Charania.
A trade that involves Randle (needs to opt in), DiVincenzo and Mike Conley for Durant works salary-wise. But it all depends on what the Suns are looking for and where Durant wants to go.
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