Kevin Durant goes to be traded, and it may occur at any minute. The Phoenix Suns have been parsing by means of gives for the celebrity scorer getting ready to his thirty seventh birthday. Durant reportedly has a choice to go to the San Antonio Spurs, and he’s additionally excited about becoming a member of the Miami Warmth or Houston Rockets. The Minnesota Timberwolves are one other crew who has proven in Durant, however he reportedly doesn’t need to go there.
The Suns have been underwhelmed by the gives they’re seeing for Durant, in accordance with experiences. Houston’s provide is constructed round Jalen Inexperienced and the No. 10 decide, however Phoenix desires a minimum of yet another younger participant (Jabari Smith Jr, Reed Sheppard, or Tari Eason) along with getting one among its future picks again (2027 or 2029) that the Rockets personal. Phoenix reportedly requested the Spurs for both the No. 2 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft or Stephon Citadel, and have been instantly rebuffed. San Antonio’s provide is believed to be constructed across the No. 14 decide and both Devin Vassell or Jeremy Sochan. Miami’s provide begins with Andrew Wiggins and the No. 20 decide, with haggling anticipated over the inclusion of Kel’el Ware.
All of those gives are far, far lower than what the Suns gave as much as land Durant a number of years in the past, a package deal which included Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, 4 first-round picks, and two swaps. Durant continues to be superb, however he’s now one of many oldest gamers within the league as he enters 12 months No. 19 of his profession. The truth that Durant desires a two-year, $120 million extension at his new house may also give groups pause.
The Suns are reportedly resolved to take the very best commerce provide for the crew no matter what Durant desires. If long-time Phoenix sports activities insider John Gambadoro is true, the Timberwolves have by far the strongest provide on the board. Right here’s what Gambadoro stated on native radio on Tuesday:
Right here’s the provide:
Timberwolves get: Kevin Durant
Suns get: Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, No. 17 decide, both Rob Dillingham or Terrence Shannon Jr.
The Suns ought to rush to the telephone instantly to just accept this provide if it’s really on the desk. It’s a deal that would instantly replenish Phoenix with the belongings it desperately wants. It additionally looks like an enormous overpay for Minnesota.
The Wolves have been briefly a laughingstock for his or her unique Rudy Gobert commerce with the Utah Jazz, but it surely’s proved to be a masterstroke in recent times. With Gobert, the Wolves have gone to the convention finals in back-to-back seasons. Don’t overlook, Minnesota just lately had a 14-year playoff drought within the Western Convention. They’ve discovered succcess with a mix of Anthony Edwards’ offensive brilliance and a lockdown protection helmed by Gobert’s rim safety.
I don’t see how buying and selling Gobert for Durant straight-up makes the Wolves higher, not to mention after they add in DiVincenzo, Dillingham or Shannon Jr., and a draft decide within the teenagers. Who’s defending the rim for Minnesota in that situation? Naz Reid, a pending free agent, is far more of an offensive participant than a defensive participant. There isn’t one other playable huge man on the roster. It’s doable the Wolves may fill that gap with a free agent like Clint Capela or Brook Lopez, however that’s nonetheless doubtlessly a giant step again from Gobert.
Buying and selling this a lot depth can be scary, even when the Suns discover a approach to embody Royce O’Neale within the deal. Depth has grow to be extra vital than ever within the NBA Playoffs, and buying and selling in doubtlessly 4 rotation spots for a 37-year-old is a big gamble, and never a wise one.
In the intervening time, together with Gobert is the one method the Wolves could make a Durant commerce work. If Julius Randle decides to choose up his $31 million participant possibility, although, all of the sudden this deal turns into much more possible.
Change Randle with Durant within the Wolves lineup and Minnesota lastly has correct spacing and extra three-point taking pictures. Randle’s bully ball drives could be missed, however Durant’s mid-range sport and additional size defensively makes up for it. Even when the Wolves can embody Randle over Gobert, they need to hesitate to incorporate each the No. 17 decide and Dillingham/Shannon. The Wolves want depth if they’ve any hope of assembly the Thunder’s normal. The query is that if that’s sufficient to get Phoenix to chew.
Durant offers have blown up within the face of the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns at his final two stops. Perhaps Brooklyn would have gained the championship with KD in 2021 if his toe wasn’t on the road in Sport 7 in opposition to the Bucks, and we’d bear in mind the tip of his profession in a different way. It simply looks like KD is sad wherever he goes regardless of his love for hooping. If the Wolves put a max extension on the desk, possibly he would change his thoughts a la Jimmy Butler going to the Warriors at this previous commerce deadline.
If a crew trades for Kevin Durant, they should consider they’ve sufficient to win the championship instantly. To try this, they higher not commerce an excessive amount of.
