According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Minnesota Timberwolves were more serious about making a trade for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline than what many were assuming. In fact, they wanted to get a deal done with the Phoenix Suns.

With Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker all becoming free agents in the offseason, and Minnesota being put in a tough spot financially, this could reopen the doors of a potential Durant trade that sees the partnership of him and Anthony Edwards.

“It became clear to me in talking to the parties involved just how serious the Wolves were about trying to trade for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline,” said Brian Windhorst on Friday’s Hoop Collective Podcast.

To acquire Durant during the deadline, Windhorst and Tim MacMahon said a “series of deals” would have needed to take place. Beyond that, it was more unlikely due to both organizations being in the second apron.

However, as pointed out by the two media experts, with the upcoming offseason and players testing free agency, Minnesota won’t be weighed under that apron. This would allow them to do what they need to do to make a Durant trade happen.

While Minnesota would love to keep some combination of Randle, Naz, and NAW; it could be more plausible fans see pieces be moved around so that Durant can play in Minnesota alongside Edwards.

According to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, the Phoenix Suns have not initiated any trade conversations surrounding Kevin Durant; this comes after months of trade speculation since seeing Phoenix trying to trade him at the deadline.

Per multiple reports, the Suns may try to keep Durant in their long-term plans of attempting to win the franchise’s first NBA championship. An official ruling has not been made yet.

New general manager Brian Gregory said his order of priority is finding a head coach who is aligned with him and owner Mat Ishbia; then he will focus on roster reconstruction and what is best for the team.

Plus, in addition to waiting for the perfect coach, Phoenix is seeing how the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation will unfold. This will set the market for Durant, as teams who have an interest in Durant also has an interest in Milwaukee’s superstar. Beyond that, third-team trade facilitators may have a preference of being involved with Giannis’ situation than Durants.

Why? Because the payout would be much higher for them than what they would get back in return for facilitating Durant to whatever team he may land on.

If he doesn’t remain in Phoenix, teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs have been connected to the multi-time champion. For the Houston Rockets, they are “highly unlikely” to trade their young team for an aging veteran.

Durant will be 37 years old next year, where he is set to make $54.7 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026-27. Next season will see Durant in the final year of his $194 million contract he originally signed with the Brooklyn Nets back in 2022.

According to Marc Stein, there are two more teams to watch out for in the sweepstakes of Kevin Durant: the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.

Depending on how their postseason run goes, that will determine if they will sell off pieces of their team to acquire the unicorn Kevin Durant.

People within Durant’s inner circle wanted him to go to New York over Brooklyn back in 2019, however, he opted to team with Kyrie Irving and James Harden to create a “Big 3.”

Minnesota could seek to have Anthony Edwards and Durant become one of the league’s top duos, which would propel them into being a championship-contender – ultimately their hope.

Per Stein, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs are also teams to keep an eye on. Before the Phoenix Suns landed Durant, Pat Riley’s Heat wanted him. Even this past trade deadline, Miami had their eyes on Durant.

Prior reports say the Houston Rockets are “less likely” to trade for Durant, even if they get bounced early in the postseason. This has prompted more teams to pile in the middle to convince the Suns to trade him to them.