Retired player provides more fuel for the KD to Minnesota fire

Minnesota Timberwolves fans have to be thrilled about Anthony Edwards' achievement at the 2024 Olympics. Not only did he win a gold medal with Team USA, but he did it in his own unique fashion. Taking the role of the team's emotional leader, Ant fired up his veteran teammates from day one and played his on-court role to a tee as well.

In doing so, Edwards grew in personal relationships with his high-profile Team USA teammates. It is reasonable to imagine Ant had some kind of impact on every guy in that locker room, but perhaps the most notable was his favorite player, Kevin Durant.

Prior to the Olympics, Edwards was already making headlines for jawing at KD during the Timberwolves' first-round playoff series with the Suns. What was most interesting was that Durant seemed to legitimately enjoy the trash talk.

Then, with Team USA, KD and Ant seemed to connect even more, even coming up with their own handshake. This led to speculation from fans that Edwards could be trying to recruit Durant to Minnesota. Former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins recently backed this notion.

Kendrick Perkins "wouldn't be surprised" to see Durant in Minnesota

Appearing on an episode of First Take, Perkins stated he could see a team-up of this magnitude occurring. "While guys were over there in Paris, guys were breaking bread together, guys were having conversations together," he said. "This next NBA season is going to be interesting."

Perkins pointed out that some of the biggest names from the US Olympic team are closely connected within the NBA ranks. Durant, Stephen Curry and LeBron James all play for supposed contending teams that have each struggled in their own unique way as of late. Should those struggles continue, Kendrick believes change could be imminent.

"After this NBA season, we might see some moving parts," said Perkins. "I wouldn't be surprised if we see a reunion with Steph Curry and KD or LeBron James and Steph actually making it happen, or we see Kevin Durant go to Minnesota with Anthony Edwards because we saw they had a signature handshake. Those relationships happen, man."

It is one thing for Timberwolves fans to speculate about something like this happening, because of course many would like to see Kevin Durant donning a jersey that reads "Minnesota" across the front. But it is another thing for a prominent analyst and former player who knows a thing or two about these things to speak on it. Perhaps there is a real chance KD could eventually make a move to the Twin Cities.