There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding Kevin Durant and his seemingly inevitable departure from the Phoenix Suns.
The 36, soon to be 37-year-old, will almost certainly be on a new team next season, and one potential landing spot is the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Reports suggest that Durant would prefer to join other teams in the mix for his services, such as the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, or San Antonio Spurs.
These reported preferences may serve one of two purposes. First, they could reflect his genuine interest in those teams, and by leaking them, he might be signaling his displeasure with the idea of joining Minnesota. This makes sense if the Timberwolves currently have the strongest offer on the table. Second, it could be a strategic move to gain leverage, pressuring Minnesota to offer him a contract extension beyond the upcoming season.
Regardless, these reports alone shouldn’t be taken as a sign that Minnesota is out of the running. Similar narratives have emerged in the past: Kawhi Leonard was reportedly uninterested in Toronto, and Jimmy Butler was similarly reported to be uninterested in the Warriors— yet both ended up in those places. Often, these stories are more about negotiating power than true intent.
Should the Timberwolves want Kevin Durant?
A fierce debate among Timberwolves fans is whether the team should even consider acquiring Kevin Durant.
First and foremost, if Durant truly has no interest in joining the Timberwolves, then the team shouldn’t pursue him. No matter how talented he is, there’s little upside to bringing in an aging, potentially disgruntled star who could disrupt the locker room.
It’s also worth considering Durant’s influence. Anthony Edwards, the face of the franchise, has repeatedly called Durant his favorite player of all time. The last thing Wolves fans should want is an unhappy Durant in Edwards’ ear, planting seeds about how things might be better for Edwards elsewhere.
Forget Durant’s Reported Preference
Setting Durant’s preferences aside, it’s fair to ask whether adding him would benefit a team that has reached back-to-back Western Conference Finals.
The answer ultimately depends on what the Timberwolves would have to give up in a potential trade. Most speculation has centered around a package featuring Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo, along with a young player like Rob Dillingham or Terrence Shannon Jr., and/or the Timberwolves’ 17th and 31st picks in this year’s NBA Draft.
The Suns appear interested in staying competitive by surrounding their star, Devin Booker, with win-now talent. That proposed package could help them do that to some degree.
If Gobert is in the Trade, the Wolves Shouldn’t Do It
If that’s the trade, it doesn’t make the Timberwolves better. While adding Durant would bring a much-needed offensive boost and give Anthony Edwards the elite scoring partner he deserves, losing Rudy Gobert would mean sacrificing the team’s defensive foundation.
The Timberwolves have built their identity around being a top defense, and that identity has fueled the most playoff success in franchise history. Trading Gobert for Durant might improve their offense, but the loss of defensive dominance would likely outweigh the gains, making it, in the end, a net negative move for Minnesota.
Randle Instead of Rudy
Ideally, the Timberwolves would find a way to include Julius Randle — rather than Rudy Gobert — in a deal for Kevin Durant. However, that would be difficult and might require a third team, especially given the complexities of Randle’s contract situation.
The Timberwolves need a player like Durant— someone who can create his own shot and score efficiently without monopolizing the ball. But acquiring him at the expense of their depth and defensive identity would be a risky move, both in the short and long term, particularly if Durant has no real interest in being in Minnesota.
One way or another, it’ll be fascinating to see where the 15-time All-Star lands. A Kevin Durant trade seems likely to happen sooner rather than later, so stay tuned.
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