It’s the worst kept secret in the NBA.
Kevin Durant is on the move this summer and the only question is where will he land?
With the Suns front office narrowing down potential trade partners, an upstart Timberwolves team could be the next group to integrate the two-time NBA champion.
Minnesota would have to hop through some cap gymnastics to pull it off. They have player options on the table for Julius Randle and Naz Reid. They’re also a first apron team which limits their financial flexibility.
ESPN Front Office Insider Bobby Marks has hopped through those hoops in his past as a front office executive. He proposed a trade idea that would bring Durant to Minnesota in exchange for some substantial assets.
Timberwolves trade for Kevin Durant
Marks’ hypothetical deal involves four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Timberwolves receive:
- Kevin Durant
Suns receive:
- Rudy Gobert
- Donte DiVicenzo
- Mike Conley
- 2025 1st round pick (17th overall)
After reports that Phoenix has lowered the asking price for Durant, this would be a king’s ransom.
Gobert would answer the Suns’ big man dilemma, a gap they’ve been trying to fill for years with players like Jusuf Nurkic and Nick Richards.
DiVincenzo is a solid two-way piece for the future that could provide a spark off the bench. Conley is in the twilight of his career, but he is valuable as an expiring contract to free up cap space next season.
Minnesota would have the opportunity to pair Durant with budding superstar Anthony Edwards. The pair have already shared a friendly rivalry on the court and would mesh together well.
Timberwolves new starting lineup
Here’s what the Timberwolves starting lineup would look like after the trade:
- PG: Terrance Shannon Jr.
- SG: Anthony Edwards
- SF: Kevin Durant
- PF: Julius Randle
- C: Naz Reid
This lineup is predicated on Minnesota bringing back Randle and Reid. They would also have to decide if Shannon, who excelled as a rookie scorer this year, could handle running the offense.
If everything came together, the Wolves starting lineup would be filled with scorers that can get buckets from all three levels. They could spread the floor, run a variety of pick-and-roll combos, and ideally improve on their playoff success from the past two seasons.
Both Edwards and Durant have been vocal about their mutual admiration.
“Who I look to for advice? of course KD, that’s my favorite player of all time, anything I wanna ask I go straight to him,” Edwards said last year when the two were on the Olympic team together.
Now it’s up to the front offices in Phoenix and Minnesota to pair the tandem together.
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