Despite having few trade assets, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a small window to get a potential blockbuster deal done. After all, they will have the 17th and 31st picks in the June 25th NBA Draft, giving them the perfect chance to make a draft-day trade. Both picks are valuable trade assets and would help in a potential deal for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
Trading for Durant would be a gamble, but the Wolves made the Western Conference Finals back-to-back seasons and may have already hit a wall. Therefore, it makes sense for them to shake things up in an effort to make the NBA Finals next season.
Durant will be available this summer and could help them, but what would a potential deal look like for the Wolves? Let's find out!
Will the Minnesota Timberwolves trade for Kevin Durant?
The Wolves were previously linked to Durant around the trade deadline, but a deal obviously didn't happen. With him expected to be traded this summer and his potential trade market impacted by a looming Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, they will be smart to try and get a deal done before the start of free agency.
The trade framework of Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham, and the 17th or the 31st pick for Durant would be a surprisingly competitive offer that might land them an Edwards co-star. Although Durant is going to be 37 by the time next season starts, make no mistake, he is still one of the premier scorers in the NBA.
Having a player of his caliber in the NBA playoffs is worth its weight in gold, and him paired with Edwards would give the Wolves a much-needed offensive boost. Teams having to worry about stopping both Edwards and Durant would make things easier on both players. It would also give the Wolves more firepower to compete against the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder out West.
As for the Suns, they would be getting a star in Randle, who had a strong postseason and could help them compete in the short term. So too could DiVincenzo, while the Suns getting a pick in the twenties and a high second in this year's draft would be huge for them.
All told, it's entirely possible that the Wolves are able to pull off a big draft day deal. With an all-star, a rotation player, and two solid picks to offer, the Wolves could land Durant at the draft.