The team Kevin Durant could make a candidate for the NBA championship
It seems certain that the 36-year-old superstar is going to leave the Phoenix Suns and could land in the Minnesota Timberwolves with Anthony Edwards
At this point, everyone in the league believes that Kevin Durant will be traded this summer, with the Minnesota Timberwolves being the top contender. Most reports from the Phoenix Suns suggest that Durant's days with the franchise are numbered. The Arizona team tried to trade their star at the deadline, even without his knowledge, which could have strained the relationship between the superstar player and the organization.
Now, ESPN's Brian Windhorst believes that the Timberwolves can pull off a Durant trade. Speaking on Get Up, he said: "Another small market team to keep an eye on: the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ant Edwards and KD have a very close connection also, from the Olympics. The Timberwolves tried a crazy swap at the deadline for KD. Expect them to revisit those talks this summer."
If the Timberwolves want to snatch Durant from the Suns, they will need help from one of their players. Since they are above the luxury tax apron, they can't add contracts. Therefore, initially, they must get under the apron and then combine enough salary to reach the $54 million that the superstar forward will earn next season.
Negotiating for Durant has its allure. Despite being 36 years old, he is averaging 26.9 points, ranking fifth best in the NBA. Furthermore, he is a close friend of Anthony Edwards, who has stated that Durant is his all-time favorite player.
But for this trade to come to fruition, Minnesota needs Julius Randle to opt into his player option for next season. If he does, he will earn $31 million, a substantial salary they can use in an exchange for Durant. They will still need to add other players, but they can make the salaries work.
Convincing the Phoenix Suns
Next, they have to entice the Suns with enough draft picks. They have a protected first-round pick, 1-13, from the Detroit Pistons in this year's draft. They also have a second-round pick from the Utah Jazz, which could be in the top 30. The Timberwolves possess a couple more picks, including their own in 2028 and 2029.
Edwards has spoken about how Durant is the GOAT in his eyes. He inspired him to become an NBA player. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, their brotherhood took on a life of its own. Pairing these two will be a dream come true for the young superstar.
For Durant, Minnesota offers the chance to contend for a third title. He tried it with Devin Booker, another young star, but they didn't succeed. In Minnesota, he will have a more complete roster, something he lacked in Phoenix. The issue is that many other teams will also try to acquire him.
After losing to the Timberwolves in the 2024 playoffs, Durant mentioned that Edwards is his favorite player to watch in the league. It seems like these two are destined to play together.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El equipo al que Kevin Durant podría hacer candidato al anillo NBA
