The Kevin Durant trade saga continues to heat up ahead of the upcoming NBA draft. While teams such as the San Antonio Spurs have veered away from the Phoenix Suns forward for the time being, teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves remain frontrunners to land him. And in light of this, NBA insider John Gambadoro leaked the Wolves' trade proposal for Durant.
Durant has garnered attention from a number of teams in the offseason. With the forward and the organization mutually agreeing to part ways, the 36-year-old has found his value being measured on the trade market. While he has indicated his interest in joining forces with the Spurs, however, San Antonio's current trade offer hasn't been exciting enough for Phoenix.
With the Spurs currently out of the picture, teams such as the Houston Rockets, the Toronto Raptors, and the Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be the frontrunners to land Durant. In this regard, Gambadoro revealed an interesting trade package from the Wolves, which has served as a framework for the organization to land the Suns' superstar.
Proposed Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., No. 17 pick
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Kevin Durant
This deal presents an interesting scenario for both teams. For the Wolves, they acquire the "alpha" type of player they had been looking for to pair with their young star, Anthony Edwards.
Considering that Edwards is on the verge of becoming one of the best players in the league, Durant's advice could be a catalyst in promoting this development. Additionally, the two-time NBA champion brings enough playoff and Finals experience to a team that is severely lacking in the department.
The Timberwolves have also been inconsistent in their offensive productivity. As capable a player as Edwards is, he drew too much attention on his own in the playoffs.
With a bona fide scorer like Durant next to him, who averaged 26.6 points on shooting splits of 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from beyond the arc last season, the Wolves could see a reinvigorated offense that sustains even in the postseason.
Meanwhile, this deal also has merit for the Suns. Since the departure of Deandre Ayton, Phoenix has had a lot of trouble with the center position. The addition of Rudy Gobert addresses this matter.
Gobert may not be an offensive threat, but his defense and rebounding could be crucial for the team. His averages of 12.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game prove to be solid for a role-playing center.
In addition to Gobert, the Suns would also add talented young players in Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham, and Terrence Shannon Jr.
DiVincenzo is the prototypical two-way guard in the modern era. His adaptability and versatility make him an essential piece on any roster. Last season, the 28-year-old recorded an average of 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists off the bench. His shooting averages of 42.4% from the field and 39.7% from the three-point line are promising enough in developing Phoenix's bench rotation.
Dillingham and Shannon Jr. are coming off their rookie seasons. At 20 years old, Dillingham still has a lot of room for growth. His averages of 4.5 points per game in 10.5 minutes of playing time showcase this.
Meanwhile, Shannon Jr. had a massive 15-point outburst in 13 minutes of playing time in the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, helping the Wolves win the game. While this is an outlier in an otherwise ordinary season, the 24-year-old has displayed the potential to become a solid bucket-getter, a talent worth cultivating for the future.
The addition of the No. 17 pick in the deal only sweetens the pot for the Suns, who will be retooling around their star player, Devin Booker, moving forward. In this regard, the developmental pieces from Minnesota may simply be used as leverage for facilitating other trades in the future.
Although the deal benefits both teams, recent reports have indicated that Durant has virtually no interest in joining Edwards on the Wolves. While this could effectively affect any future deals, the eventual decision lies with the Suns organization.
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