Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant is making his preferences clear regarding potential trade destinations—specifically, he’s not eyeing the Minnesota Timberwolves. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Durant outright has no interest in donning a Wolves jersey. During his Monday appearance on SportsCenter, he emphasized this point, laying it bare for the basketball world to absorb.
Though Durant has his sights set on the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs as preferred landing spots, that doesn’t mean the Timberwolves will be sidelined completely in the pursuit for the 15-time All-Star. In fact, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that Minnesota has been particularly aggressive in their interest for Durant, making their intentions known and keeping the dialogue alive.
The Suns are also making it clear they’re open for business, ready to explore all avenues for a trade—even if it means sending Durant to a team outside of his preferred list. That leaves an intriguing question mark hanging over Minnesota’s plans as they weigh the risks of making a big move for a player who has only one year left on his current deal, valued at $54.7 million. It’s a high-stakes gamble, especially with Durant eligible for a two-year extension that could be worth up to $122 million starting July 6. If he finds himself traded to a team he’s not enthusiastic about, his willingness to sign that new deal become all the more uncertain.
Despite the Suns stumbling through the 2024-25 season and missing the playoffs with a disappointing 36-46 record, Durant’s performance stood out. At 36 years old, he continues to showcase his elite scoring ability, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game, all while boasting impressive shooting splits of 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc, and 83.9% from the free-throw line across 62 games.
Now, imagine Durant teaming up with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. The prospect of pairing two offensive juggernauts could be fascinating, particularly with the Timberwolves coming off back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Finals. Edwards led the team with an impressive 27.6 points per game during the regular season, but the Timberwolves could certainly benefit from another high-volume scorer alongside him. While Julius Randle chipped in an average of 18.7 points per night, the remainder of the roster struggled to find consistent scoring, as no other player managed to hit the 15-points-per-game mark.
As the Timberwolves navigate these complex waters, will they weigh the risk of acquiring a superstar who may not want to stay? Or will they seize the opportunity to pair their young star with one of the game’s legends? Only time will tell as we follow the twists and turns of this intriguing trade saga.
