The Minnesota Timberwolves are getting hot at the right time, winning 12 of their last 15 games.
However, the organization likely hopes it can get back to at least the Western Conference Finals, though losing center Karl-Anthony Towns in a trade to the New York Knicks will likely be felt at times during their playoff run.
Minnesota could land Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant in a trade to essentially replace Towns, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale predicts.
“Julius Randle picking up his player option and being included as an expiring anchor is the most logical starting point,” Favale wrote. “That changes if he heads into free agency, or if Phoenix kiboshes his acquisition and Minnesota is unable to suss out a third team.
“Even then, the Timberwolves have matching-salary options in Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and, potentially, Naz Reid (player option),” Favale concluded.
Minnesota’s only tradeable first-round pick is this year’s Detroit Pistons pick, but with Durant a year away from free agency and the Suns not looking like a championship contender, Phoenix likely won’t get the same haul of picks they gave to the Brooklyn Nets in 2023 when they landed the 15-time All-Star.
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Phoenix would likely try and land McDaniels in any such deal, but the Timberwolves showed a strong reluctance to include their defensive specialist in previous discussions.
If Minnesota manages to land Durant, pairing him with guard Anthony Edwards would give the Timberwolves arguably the deadliest scoring duo in the league. That move would also likely keep Minnesota’s franchise star happy, as Durant is a player Edwards has always looked up to.
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