RealGM

The Minnesota Timberwolves are believed to be very close to a potential Kevin Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns, but they face a question of whether they should move forward with it considering he has expressed a strong preference to be dealt to one of the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets or Miami Heat. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Durant has "no desire, no interest in playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves."

"We're in the very thick of it with this Kevin Durant thing," said Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective Podcast. "And so I don't know what's going to happen by the time this comes out, but while we're talking about this on Tuesday afternoon, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a very interesting situation sitting in their laps.

"I'm not saying anything definitive—to be clear, I'm not reporting this—but my feel is that if the Timberwolves wanted it, they could probably get a trade for Durant done. The question is—and Durant has made it very clear that he does not have the Wolves on his list. It has practically been posted on social media. It's been posted on social media by Shams, essentially, but it might as well have been posted on social media by Durant.

"If you're Minnesota, do you trade for a player who doesn't want to be there? Who very clearly doesn't want to be there?"

When the Wolves discussed a deal with the Suns at the trade deadline, they operated under the assumption that Durant had interest in joining their team. Durant has a close relationship with Anthony Edwards and joining the Wolves would allow him to join a team that has reached the Western Conference each of the past two seasons.

Durant is on an $54.7 million expiring contract for the 2025-26 season. Durant will be eligible to sign a two-year contract extension on July 6 worth as much as $112 million, or he could sign a two-year extension worth up to $124 million if he waits six months.

Minnesota's trade offer likely would be centered upon some combination of Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle along with Donte DiVincenzo.

Via RealGM Staff Report

Wolves are best of the teams he’s linked with, and he’d rather Miami? Wtf is he smoking.

Because it's not about winning necessarily for KD. He just wants to be in a warm place, collecting giant checks, drifting along.

Winning would simply be a bonus, it's not required.

Kinda like what PG is doing, except Philly ain't warm half the year.

the_process wrote:Because it's not about winning necessarily for KD. He just wants to be in a warm place, collecting giant checks, drifting along.

Winning would simply be a bonus, it's not required.

Kinda like what PG is doing, except Philly ain't warm half the year.

I think KD believes he can make almost any team a contender, and I know that PG thought he was going to be the final piece of a contender in PHI. PG was wrong and I expect time will prove KD wrong as well. There are some seriously deep teams in the league right now.

Pickled Prunes wrote:

the_process wrote:Because it's not about winning necessarily for KD. He just wants to be in a warm place, collecting giant checks, drifting along.

Winning would simply be a bonus, it's not required.

Kinda like what PG is doing, except Philly ain't warm half the year.

I think KD believes he can make almost any team a contender, and I know that PG thought he was going to be the final piece of a contender in PHI. PG was wrong and I expect time will prove KD wrong as well. There are some seriously deep teams in the league right now.

Time already has.

Pickled Prunes wrote:

the_process wrote:Because it's not about winning necessarily for KD. He just wants to be in a warm place, collecting giant checks, drifting along.

Winning would simply be a bonus, it's not required.

Kinda like what PG is doing, except Philly ain't warm half the year.

I think KD believes he can make almost any team a contender

Almost any team, but apparently not the Suns...

I get that he prefers Texas or Florida but he shouldn't be ruling out the Minny option if he is serious about competing for another ring. They are obviously on the doorstep.

FeatheryTouch wrote:

Pickled Prunes wrote:

the_process wrote:Because it's not about winning necessarily for KD. He just wants to be in a warm place, collecting giant checks, drifting along.

Winning would simply be a bonus, it's not required.

Kinda like what PG is doing, except Philly ain't warm half the year.

I think KD believes he can make almost any team a contender

Almost any team, but apparently not the Suns...

I get that he prefers Texas or Florida but he shouldn't be ruling out the Minny option if he is serious about competing for another ring. They are obviously on the doorstep.

KD won't solve anything for MIN. They need a PG and a center that can catch the ball. They should move Gobert for a PG and move Naz to starting center.

stepic wrote:Wolves are best of the teams he’s linked with, and he’d rather Miami? Wtf is he smoking.

He’s doesn’t care about championships at this stage of his career more than lifestyle and weather.

I think he’s satisfied with his 2 championships and finals MVPs

Hold That wrote:

stepic wrote:Wolves are best of the teams he’s linked with, and he’d rather Miami? Wtf is he smoking.

He’s doesn’t care about championships at this stage of his career more than lifestyle and weather.

I think he’s satisfied with his 2 championships and finals MVPs

He’s so close to retirement now where he’ll be able to live wherever he wants for the rest of is life.

Doesn’t make much sense to me.