After being rolled by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves are at home licking their wounds.
To be fair, the fact they were able to make it back to the Western Conference Finals is worth applauding for several reasons. Anthony Edwards, their franchise cornerstone, is 23 years old. Julius Randle, who stumbled out of the blocks in his effort to replace Karl-Anthony Towns, rose to the occasion. Rudy Gobert, the most criticized four-time Defensive Player of the Year there’s ever been, quieted the noise.
Nevertheless, the Timberwolves came up short when it mattered most. With every loss to the Thunder coming in a blowout, their elimination stings even more. It’s clear that, as good as they were, they have a ways to go to be a title team.
Timberwolves Could Trade For Kevin Durant In Offseason
The biggest swing Minnesota might take in the offseason could be the same one they took ahead of February’s trade deadline — attempting a trade for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.
“It became clear to me in talking to the parties involved just how serious the (Timberwolves) were about trying to trade for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports on the Hoop Collective Podcast.
“At the time, the Wolves were not playing their best basketball. They subsequently finished the season, I think, 18-5 and got to the Western Conference Finals. So I don’t want to make it implied that their mindset is still where it was in February.”
“…It would have been an extraordinarily complicated series of deals to be able to [make the trade],” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon appends.
“Which is why they didn’t do it,” Windhorst adds. “But the point is this wasn’t just: ‘We’re not doing anything on trade deadline day’… They made some sort of progress. Getting it done was impossible. They were two second apron teams. But after these guys opt out, they won’t be a second apron team.”
Windhorst cautions against assuming Minnesota will revisit the trade. Still, there are multiple reasons to believe that they will, including the eased cap restrictions.
As previously mentioned, the Timberwolves just lost to the Thunder in embarrassing fashion. Furthermore, though Randle redeemed himself by the end of the season, Durant is still a more sensible fit. At the end of the day, Durant’s a much better jump shooter and would create better spacing. Lastly, Edwards and Durant became fast friends during the Paris Olympics, their chemistry showing on and off the court.
What A Deal Could Look Like
Despite being 35 years old, Durant would come at a steep price. Not only is he still playing at an elite level, he’s handsomely-paid. With that in mind, even if the Timberwolves aren’t handcuffed by the second apron, they still have to match salaries.
Durant is set to make $54.7 million in 2025-26.
As a result, Minnesota has to ship off not only Randle but Naz Reid, with at least one being moved in a sign-and-trade. Donte DiVincenzo, who’ll make $11.9 million in 2025-26, likely has to be moved as well. One framework for a deal could see Randle and Reid land in Phoenix while DiVincenzo is sent to the Brooklyn Nets, a guard-needy team with plenty of draft capital.
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