All indications are that the Minnesota Timberwolves are out of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes as the star forward reportedly has no desire to be traded to Minnesota. After likely striking out on Durant, many expected the Wolves might pivot to pursue a trade for a star guard like Darius Garland. However, The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski reported that Minnesota doesn't plan to make any major roster changes if they can't land Durant.
"The Timberwolves do not want to make a seismic change to a roster that advanced to the Western Conference finals if Durant is not on board with the move, team sources said. The question now is whether there’s any chance of Durant coming around to the idea." Krawczynski reported.
For the Wolves, if you can't get Durant, it makes sense to run it back with a team that just made the Western Conference Finals. Krawczynski noted that there's a chance Durant will change his mind. However, that doesn't seem likely at this point, and trading for him now seems more risky. Currently, Wolves fans can expect the team to be back with a similar roster.
Keeping their core together is logical
While the fit of a guard like Garland is clear, the price tag would be hefty. Unless a team covets Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle, trading for an All-Star caliber guard would likely cost Minnesota Jaden McDaniels, who is an essential part of the Wolves' success. The Timberwolves don't have many future draft picks to make an intriguing offer. Part of the initial appeal of a Durant trade was a perceived lower price point.
However, there is no other trade target that would move the needle for such a low price. Furthermore, adding another big contract would be problematic for the Wolves as they already have an expensive payroll. This is especially a concern as the Wolves have some key free agents this offseason.
Julius Randle and Naz Reid have player options that they are likely to opt out of, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker is an unrestricted free agent. The Wolves seem focused on re-signing Randle and Reid. However, that will be costly for a team that was in the second-apron last season. Adding another expensive contract into the mix would be challenging. A core of Anthony Edwards, Randle, McDaniels, Reid, and Gobert is capable of winning a championship.
Sure, they still lack playmaking, but Rob Dillingham could make a massive leap in his second season. Additionally, if the Wolves trade Gobert for a guard, there would be serious concerns about their defense. Perhaps this Wolves core will take a step back next season, and they make a trade at the deadline. However, for now, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this squad, and there isn't a need for a blockbuster trade. Ultimately, prioritizing continuity would be wise for the Timberwolves with Durant likely out of the picture.