While Kevin Durant reportedly prefers to play elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns haven’t given up hope he would accept a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Sam Amick and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported Monday that Phoenix is “still hopeful that Durant might warm to the Timberwolves possibility” with offers from the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat “coming up short to this point.”
Reports from NBA insider Jake Fischer and ESPN’s Shams Charania indicated Durant prefers to be traded to the Spurs, Rockets or Heat.
However, Amick and Krawczynski noted that Phoenix is focused on getting the best possible return that would keep the team competitive in the immediate future instead of moving into full-on rebuilding mode by accumulating draft picks and younger players.
That’s why the Timberwolves are so intriguing as a possibility with players like Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle, who could pair up with Devin Booker and perhaps keep the Suns competitive in 2025-26.
The report also pointed out that Minnesota is aware Durant prefers to play elsewhere and doesn’t “want to make a seismic change to a roster that advanced to the Western Conference Finals” if there isn’t a change of heart from the future Hall of Famer.
That change of heart would be drastic, though, considering Charania reported he “has no desire to be in Minnesota with the Timberwolves.”
It is quite the predicament for the Minnesota front office, as landing a player of Durant’s caliber to pair with Anthony Edwards would be an aggressive play in a daunting Western Conference. It could be the move to help push the team over the top after back-to-back losses in the Western Conference Finals.
Still, a disgruntled Durant who is playing on the final year of his contract in 2025-26 could also disrupt one of the league’s most promising teams that could be a realistic championship contender for years to come with Edwards leading the way.
If Durant doesn’t want to be in Minnesota, he surely won’t sign a contract extension. That would mean the Timberwolves giving up valuable pieces for just one season of someone who will be 37 in September.
But the Suns reportedly hope there is a change of heart, and the Timberwolves surely agree with that sentiment.
