The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached the 2025 NBA Playoffs with a roster that few expected to jell. Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert were back to lead one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, but the addition of Julius Randle in Karl-Anthony Towns' place led many to believe there was a ceiling to Minnesota's success.
That will be formally determined when the postseason officially begin, but an offseason trade just became a realistic goal regardless of the team's potential results.
Three of the Timberwolves' most important players will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Randle, and Naz Reid. All three are immensely valuable contributors who will likely command interest from rival executives.
Thankfully, the Timberwolves have a summer pursuit worth looking forward to. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Phoenix Suns will work to trade Kevin Durant.
"Phoenix is expected to engage in trade conversations involving Durant and will have discussions on the future of Beal, according to sources. Multiple teams will seriously pursue Durant, who finished another stellar season, and the franchise is expected to work with Durant and his business partner and Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman on the next landing spot for the future Hall of Famer."
Durant has become a somewhat divisive figures in NBA circles, but he's an unavoidably attractive trade option for the Timberwolves to consider.
Timberwolves can officially go all-in on Kevin Durant
The reasons for skepticism are obvious. Durant will turn 37 before the 2025-26 regular season, and has missed at least 20 games due to injury in five of the past six years—albeit while appearing in respectable tallies of 75 and 62 games in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The correlation between aging and staying healthy isn't exactly a positive one in sports circles, and Durant would need to defy Father Time to help the Timberwolves win a title.
For as true as that may be, there's no way around how appealing Durant is as a trade target. He's one of the greatest players in NBA history, boasting a résumé that includes two championships, two Finals MVP awards, one regular season MVP, and four scoring titles.
Durant is also aging remarkably well, especially considering his injury history, as he's maintained an All-NBA level of play deep into his 30s.
Durant has posted averages of 26.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 blocks, 0.9 steals, and 2.4 three-point field goals made per game on .525/.421/.848 shooting over the past two seasons. He continues to be one of the most dynamic scorers on the planet, producing with volume and efficiency.
By adding Durant alongside Edwards, Minnesota would move forward with a truly dynamic scoring duo who can take over any game they play.
Durant has proven in the past that he's willing to share a significant number of touches with high-volume co-stars such as Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, and Russell Westbrook. In Minnesota, his ability to work both with and without the ball could enhance Edwards' development into the dominant isolation player who can lead the Timberwolves to new heights.
The logistics of a trade will be the question that defines this process, but Durant is officially available for the Timberwolves to swoop in and acquire this summer.