Kevin Durant could join the Miami Heat
Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images
Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are perhaps the most motivated team in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes and may be able to put together the best trade package for the superstar this summer.
The Phoenix Suns have made no secret of their desire for a viable center to pair with perennial All-Star wing Devin Booker. Minnesota can offer that in the form of four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. The center, who will play next season at 33 years old, has three years remaining on his $110 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
Zach Lowe of “The Ringer” recently formulated a trade proposal that includes Gobert, 3-and-D wing Donte DiVincenzo and last year’s No. 8 overall pick Rob Dillingham as a package the Timberwolves can send the Suns in return for Durant.
The deal makes sense for Phoenix, as Durant is looking to play elsewhere in the final year of his current contract. It provides the team with the defensive anchor it needs in the paint, as well as a viable wing in DiVincenzo to play alongside Booker as the focal point of the offense who can also serve as a plus defender against opposing wings.
Dillingham, just 20 years old, was a dynamic scorer during his sole season at Kentucky, averaging more than 15 points per game and shooting nearly 44.5% from behind the 3-point line on 4.5 attempts per night.
Minnesota would lose some juice on defense in the deal, but would create a dynamic offensive duo in Durant and fellow superstar Anthony Edwards. The real problem, though, is on the other side of the equation, as Durant recently indicated that he doesn’t want to end up in Minnesota, which could dissuade the Timberwolves from giving the green light on a deal.
Kevin Durant Uninterested in Joining Timberwolves
GettyCenter Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Durant recently made it clear that he has three preferred destinations. A report from Shams Charania of ESPN on Monday, June 16, emphasized that Durant does not include Minnesota among that group.
“I’m told the Phoenix Suns remain in active conversations around the league on a Kevin Durant deal, but their focus over the last several days has been on three teams, and that’s the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves,” Charania said. “His expiring contract of $54.7 million is going to play a part in this, and I’m told Durant has no desire to be in Minnesota with the Timberwolves.”
Durant will turn 37 years old ahead of next season and is willing to sign an extension with the Heat, Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. Charania’s report Monday renders it unlikely that the Timberwolves can convince him to do the same in Minnesota, should the organization ultimately trade for him this summer.
Kevin Durant, New York Knicks
GettyKevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns.
Durant could potentially change his mind, and he does have a previous relationship with Edwards after the two won a gold medal together as contributors to the 2024 U.S. Men’s Basketball Team at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
No reporters have indicated precisely why Durant doesn’t want to go to Minnesota. He is from Texas and played his collegiate basketball there, which explains his interest in Houston and San Antonio. Miami has also long been one of the more attractive cities to NBA players.
Furthermore, neither Texas or Florida levies a state income tax, which means Durant would keep more of the money he makes by playing with any of the three of his preferred organizations than in Minnesota.