The Minnesota Timberwolves just had their most successful season in decades, and while the way it ended wasn’t how they planned, it’s difficult to be disappointed in the entire body of work.
However, against the Dallas Mavericks, it became clear that the Timberwolves have some offensive flaws that must be addressed, particularly late in games, if they are to make the NBA Finals next season.
Anthony Edwards requires more backcourt help. A companion who prevents defenders from focusing solely on stopping him. Karl Anthony Towns was intended to play Robin, the Wolves’ Ant-Man. However, as a frontcourt player, he is frequently knocked out of games far too readily.
Karl Anthony-Towns had a tale of two halves during Game 4’s season-saving W:
1st half: 5 PTS on 2-3 FG & 1 REB (4.2 FPTS)
🆚
2nd half: 20 PTS on 7-10 FG, 4 REB & 4 3PM (24.3 FPTS)Let’s hope KAT’s phenomenal 2nd half carries over to Game 5 tonight at 🏡 pic.twitter.com/7vys18EBuz
— Jacob Dunne (@AintDunneYet) May 30, 2024
None of this was an issue during the Wolves’ first-round series with the Phoenix Suns. Minnesota swept Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Suns. Instead, the majority of the narratives focused on Anthony Edwards succeeding Kevin Durant as the NBA’s face.
The Timberwolves’ 22-year-old rising talent has made no secret of his admiration for the future Hall of Famer, and by the end of the series, Durant had crowned Edwards as well.
Kevin Durant says Anthony Edwards is his “favorite player to watch.”
His full answer: pic.twitter.com/oJUT0eD583
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 29, 2024
So, as both teams attempt to rearrange their rosters and deal with distinct but grave luxury tax situations this offseason, it’s worth considering how much sense it would make for the Timberwolves to try swapping some very costly components with the Suns.
Will the Phoenix Suns deal Kevin Durant this offseason?
The Phoenix Suns, like the Minnesota Timberwolves, are living in luxury tax hell. I take that back; the Suns’ scenario ($126 million projected luxury tax bill) is significantly worse than the Wolves’ ($51 million projected luxury tax bill).
Phoenix not only has double the expected tax payment in 2024-25 (the highest in the NBA), but they are also working with a squad that was recently swept out of the NBA Playoffs in the first round and appears to require some substantial rearrangement.
Without a doubt, the objective is to break up the existing “big three” of Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal. The issue with trading Beal is that he has a complete no-trade clause. It’s improbable that they’ll trade Booker, so Durant, 35, is the most likely candidate to go.
So, when the Suns begin shopping for stars this summer, could the Wolves make sense as a partner? That makes a lot of sense. Let’s look into why. Let us start with talent. Could the Suns receive a player-for-player trade offer that includes more talent than Karl-Anthony Towns? Good luck.
Does trading Karl-Anthony Towns for Kevin Durant make sense?
Because the Suns and Wolves are both on the second tier of the luxury tax, any deal for either team this offseason will have to be practically dollar for dollar, player for player.
The Suns can’t deal Durant to Team X and get two players back to ensure equal wages in and out. However, KAT and KD cost almost the same amount next season, making the transfer simple for the NBA trading machine. Straight up, the transaction goes smoothly.
Do you believe Phoenix requires more in return? Okay, send them Nickeil Walker-Alexander and this year’s No. 27 pick. Is it too much? Okay, try it the other way. These changes are simple to implement since the wages of the two major players, KAT and KD, are so similar.
It is not only the money that makes sense here. So do the years. Towns is in the first year of a brand new supermax contract, which means he has four guaranteed years remaining at maximum value. Durant, on the other hand, has only two years remaining on his supermax contract before becoming a free agent (at the age of 37).
A transaction like this would provide Phoenix with two serious assets in the middle of their primes to build their new-look squad around: Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns, who also happen to be close friends. If you’re going to have two max players on a “rebuilding” team, they should be in their mid-late 20s (like Booker and Towns), not mid-late 30s.
How about Bradley Beal? Given his no-trade provision, this is a reasonable question. But Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishba is not going to rebuild the traditional manner. He will pay for any long-term vision that makes sense.
Again, if the Suns opt to separate their big three or Durant requests a trade, the question is not whether Phoenix will sell him, but rather what they can get in return. And KAT is a lot to ask of an elderly superstar well past his prime.
"I don't know what the 2nd tax apron is?"
Joking Mat Ishbia as Suns are over 2nd tax apron.
"We're not frivolous with money and just spending money to spend money. We're trying to win a championship."
Said he hopes, expects to have UFA Royce O'Neale, Grayson Allen back. #Suns pic.twitter.com/pbR6r8meto
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 8, 2024
For Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Durant is the missing piece
Kevin Durant provided the Wolves with exactly what they needed in a variety of ways. They would put Anthony Edwards with his all-time favorite player, as well as someone who could educate him how to win, prepare, and navigate an NBA Finals run. He’d be a lot like Kyrie has been to Luka this year, only better.
In fact, no one is better qualified to assist Edwards become the “face of the NBA” than his role model. Furthermore, the addition of Durant would provide the Wolves with another outstanding ball handler, making it nearly impossible to double team and contain Ant once he gets going.
In other words, Durant would give the Timberwolves exactly what he doesn’t give the Suns. In Minnesota, his age would be viewed positively, not negatively. Edwards would immediately benefit from the addition of a trusted and experienced player who can fill it up offensively even in the latter stages of his career.
Minnesota Timberwolves Have Ready Made Replacements
Kevin Durant provided the Wolves with exactly what they needed in a variety of ways. They would put Anthony Edwards with his all-time favorite player, as well as someone who could educate him how to win, prepare, and navigate an NBA Finals run. He’d be a lot like Kyrie has been to Luka this year, only better.
In fact, no one is better qualified to assist Edwards become the “face of the NBA” than his role model. Furthermore, the addition of Durant would provide the Wolves with another outstanding ball handler, making it nearly impossible to double team and contain Ant once he gets going.
In other words, Durant would give the Timberwolves exactly what he doesn’t give the Suns. In Minnesota, his age would be viewed positively, not negatively. Edwards would immediately benefit from the addition of a trusted and experienced player who can fill it up offensively even in the latter stages of his career.
Minnesota Timberwolves Have Ready Made Replacements
The Minnesota Timberwolves would have to replace Karl-Anthony Towns’ productivity in the starting lineup if they traded him. It’s difficult not to see Naz Reid as an immediate successor, and with the ability to stretch the floor like Towns and a deep shot in his arsenal, any drop-off should not be significant.
Naz Reid has a heartfelt answer when asked about this past year, 6th man, the towels, the love, etc.
Not gonna summarize, this is one to watch…#Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/Zf8frW6GHz
— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) May 31, 2024
This summer, Edwards will compete for Team USA at the Olympics in Paris. Durant is also on that team, and matching them as teammates for the upcoming season seems like something Tim Connelly should keep an eye out for as he watches the Paris games unfold.
If the Minnesota Timberwolves want to make a repeat run to the Western Conference Finals and eventually win the Larry O’Brien Trophy, figuring out how to shuffle a few things about is the most obvious way to do so. Without a question, adding Kevin Durant may be the perfect shuffle.
