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Windy Swirling Up Early Kevin Durant + Timberwolves Trade Rumors
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- Windy Swirling Up Early Kevin Durant + Timberwolves Trade Rumors
John David Mercer-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves 2024-25 season is over, after Anthony Edwards & Co pushed their way to the Western Conference Finals and fell in five games for the second-straight NBA Playoffs. Thursday morning, fans are rightfully mourning.
But soon, all eyes will turn to a 2025 offseason that holds the key to whether or not Ant and the Wolves can climb beyond the West Finals, and into their first NBA Finals in what will be the franchise's 37-year history .
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After Marc Lore takes majority ownership over from Glen Taylor and he, along with Alex Rodriguez, get president of basketball operations Tim Connelly under contract for the long haul, how does this team take the next step on the basketball court?
Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images
Is it time to move on from head coach, Chris Finch? Or maybe the focus should be on the roster. How about both? These are the questions facing Connelly, assuming he doesn't leave for another job, himself.
We'll talk a lot more in-depth about why Minnesota would ponder a coaching change, in the coming days, along with who Lore, A-Rod and Tim might have their eyes on…
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Windy Fingers: Watch for Kevin Durant to Minnesota Timberwolves
But on Thursday morning — in-between their Anthony Edwards criticism and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander simping — the conversation on ESPN's "Get Up" turned to a familiar place. What NBA team could 36-year-old superstar Kevin Durant help get over the hump?
After former Duke star point guard Jason Williams picked out the Minnesota Timberwolves as the best landing spot for KD (others picked Houston ), the always-popular and EXTREMELY plugged-in NBA insider, Brian Windhorst, got his "Windy Fingers" swirling on ESPN's Get Up this morning.
Windorst started by reminding viewers just how close the Wolves and Suns were to pulling off a Kevin Durant blockbuster at the trade deadline, something that has been reported on locally by multiple reporters. He finished by saying, "absolutely, Minnesota should be on that [KD] list".
Windy Fingers already swirling up that KD + Timberwolves steam this morning on @GetUpESPN … 👀
"In the wake of the trade deadline, it became clear to me just how significant and how hard Minnesota tried to get Kevin Durant at the trade deadline."
"There was a point this year… pic.twitter.com/uiLnVuCEae— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 29, 2025
"In the wake of the trade deadline, it became clear to me just how significant and how hard Minnesota tried to get Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. Now, it was a Herculean effort because both teams are in the second apron. But there was a point this year where MN was very interested in making this happen. They looked at that piece defensively, that they had to deal with last night.
I could see them considering revisiting this. However, I've got to say two things. They have an ownership change about to happen and their president Tim Connelly can opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer. They gotta make sure that's taken care of and the ownership change, so a lot of moving parts. But I think absolutely, Minnesota should be on that list."
As Windy notes, Kevin Durant to the Minnesota Timberwolves is not a new rumor, nor is it unsubstantiated. We knew, prior to Thursday's episode of Get Up, that Connelly nearly completed a hail mary deal with the Suns, at the very last second before the 2024-25 NBA trade deadline, that would have landed Durant in a Wolves uniform.
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Thus, it's no surprise we are seeing the two connected again. Minnesota wants to take the next step and Phoenix pretty much has to get rid of KD, if they are going to climb their way out of luxury tax hell.
Acquiring KD fixes the Wolves immediately
And if you watched the Minnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder Western Conference Finals, it would be very difficult to argue that Durant wouldn't immediately be the elixor to most of the Wolves' offensive problems.
No, KD is not washed up. He averaged 26.6 points (43% 3PT), 6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 36.5 minutes per game last season, all within a point or two of his career averages.
Kevin Durant's shot-making ability is absurd. 🥶
pic.twitter.com/mhwGmQ2Ndz— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 28, 2025
All series long, Anthony Edwards struggled with the pressure OKC was able to apply every time he touched the ball, designating as many as three defenders to him at one time. The Thunder dared Chris Finch or Timberwolves role players to beat them, a strategy that worked beautifully and essentially eliminated Ant as a scoring threat for much of the WCF.
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But if the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to put Kevin Durant on the opposite wing, it would take away the ability for defenses to commit that much attention to Edwards. It seems simple, but sometimes the simple fix is the right one.
Related: Kendrick Perkins Apologizes to Anthony Edwards
As Windy mentions, acquiring KD won't be simple, being both the Timberwolves and Suns are in the 2nd apron of the luxury tax. But should they find a way to trade Julius Randle to Phoenix — or if he opts out — then the money becomes a lot easier to make work.
And we all know that once Tim Connelly puts his mind to something, it usually gets done. We'll see if landing Kevin Durant is a priority, once Tim's deal gets done (which should be very soon).
