The Minnesota Timberwolves have been handed disappointing news on the Kevin Durant front. Durant reportedly isn't interested in playing for the Timberwolves, which has thus called the likelihood of a trade into question.
For as brutal as that may be, Minnesota is proving that they've learned an important lesson in the process: Talent isn't enough to justify a deal.
Trading for Durant will be no easy feat, as the Timberwolves will need to match a $54.7 million salary and provide the Phoenix Suns with a top-tier package. The one rumor that seems to be working in Minnesota's favor, however, is that they appear to have the assets that Phoenix covets most.
According to Sam Amick and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Suns appear to favor the Timberwolves' trade offer—but Minnesota is unwilling to complete a deal unless Durant commits long term.
"With the offers from the Spurs, Rockets and Heat coming up short to this point, league sources say the Suns are still hopeful that Durant might warm to the Timberwolves possibility. The Timberwolves do not want to make a seismic change to a roster that advanced to the Western Conference finals if Durant is not on board with the move, team sources said."
It's a positive sign that the Suns appear higher on the offer from the Timberwolves than those they've received from Durant's other suitors, but the true reason for optimism is the front office's poise.
Timberwolves unwilling to trade for Durant without his approval
Durant is one of the greatest players in NBA history, as well as as one of the Association's most prolific scorers. Only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain have won more scoring titles than Durant, and he ranks in the top 10 all time in total points and points per game.
Throw in two championships, a pair of Finals MVP awards, and 11 All-NBA nods, and it's easy to understand why teams have been willing to bet the farm on Durant.
What Minnesota can learn from Phoenix, however, is how dangerous it can be to go all-in on any caliber of talent without a concrete plan for the future. The Suns traded for Durant just one year after winning 64 games and two seasons after reaching the NBA Finals.
Unfortunately, they never managed to replace Mikal Bridges or Cameron Johnson, suffered immensely from losing draft capital, and ultimately failed to build a deep enough rotation to contend.
Minnesota is in a similar position having made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances. It's thrived through not only its star-caliber players' success, but the power of its depth and the manner in which it's found diamonds in the rough.
Trading away a considerable number of assets for Durant is thus a risky move, no matter how gifted a player he may be—and it becomes downright impossible to defend without a long-term commitment.
No matter what a Durant trade looks like, Minnesota will be losing important pieces to acquire him. It can hold on to hope that it'll keep much of its core intact, but losses will be incurred and Anthony Edwards' future will be linked to what the Timberwolves can afford to put around him and Durant.
Until Durant is willing to commit to the Timberwolves, Minnesota must learn from Phoenix about how challenging it truly is to trade for a superstar without knowing what comes next.