Despite being a small market team, the Minnesota Timberwolves are not operating anything like one. They currently have the second-highest payroll in the NBA, and while they are a very good team, the Wolves aren't quite a title contender at the moment.
To their credit, they tried to make a big swing to land a superstar to pair with their homegrown superstar Anthony Edwards but failed to do so. However, with Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant expected to be traded this summer, the Wolves could throw their hat back into the ring.
The Wolves' pursuit of Durant is an interesting development, but not entirely unexpected. Minnesota has been aggressive in making moves to build around Anthony Edwards, and while their decision to move Karl-Anthony Towns ahead of the season was questionable, it gave them more flexibility to make moves such as pursuing Durant.
The Minnesota Timberwolves may be dark horse contenders to land Kevin Durant.
The Wolves can theoretically put together a trade package involving sending Julius Randle to Phoenix as well as Donte DiVincenzo and 2024 fourth overall pick Rob Dillingham. Depending on whether a deal would get done around the 2025 draft, the Wolves could include the first-round pick they received from the Detroit Pistons, which projects to be 17th at the moment.
While other teams could theoretically put together stronger offers for Durant, it's unclear what his trade market is.
After all, only playoff teams would likely pursue him, and few teams can cobble together enough salaries to match his $54 million salary. Even if they could, they would also have an issue of having enough draft picks to entice the Suns.
Julius Randle could be the key for the Wolves landing Durant from the Phoenix Suns
While the Wolves traded most of their firsts in the Rudy Gobert trade, having Detroit's first in this year's draft and Dillingham might be a reasonable package for the Suns, especially with them getting an All-Star back in Randle as well. That is something that another team may be unwilling to offer the Suns, and with them likely to keep Devin Booker, it may be more appealing to pair him with another star.
That would be dependent on Randle's willingness to opt into his player option or agree to a sign and trade to play in Phoenix and the Suns' interest in paying him. But it doesn't seem that far-fetched. If the Wolves were able to land Durant while holding on to players such as Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid and pairing KD with Edwards, then that could be a game-changer.
While Towns was a terrific offensive player whose spacing and passing had a positive impact on their offense, Durant is an elite scorer and an effective team defender. Putting a player of his caliber next to Edwards would turn a middling Minnesota offense and take them to the next level. Both players would demand significant defensive attention, with few teams having a defender capable of slowing either of them, let alone both of them.
With the Wolves seemingly a tier or two below some of the best teams in the league, they need to continue to be aggressive this summer. And if they have a chance to land Durant, then they shouldn't hesitate to do so.