One of the big stories late in the trade deadline was the prospect of Kevin Durant being traded away by the Phoenix Suns.
In the lead-up to the trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns attempted to trade for Jimmy Butler. But they were effectively blocked from doing so by Bradley Beal’s ‘no-trade clause’.
This led to them allegedly exploring trading away Kevin Durant, who was strongly linked to his former team the Warriors, who ended up moving for Jimmy Butler.
The Suns are left trying to patch their team together for the rest of the season, with Kevin Durant hurt by seeing his team in trade rumors.
Following the trade deadline, it was reported the Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the teams who had contact with the Phoenix Suns over a deal for Kevin Durant.
Speaking to ESPN’s Hoop Collective, insider Brian Windhorst described the Timberwolves’ enquiry as ‘fascinating’, but feels it was simply too difficult to make work.
He explained: “The concept that the Wolves, at least tried to pull off this trade, I don’t know how they could have done it, to be honest with you.
“I’ve heard some concepts of what was offered, but the Wolves are a second apron team, so they couldn’t aggregate players together.
“They would have had to have made a separate trade to get under the apron, and then they would have to put some players together that the Suns would have accepted. And remember, they don’t have draft assets, really.”
Windhorst clarified that in no way was Rudy Gobert part of any package Minnesota would be looking to trade away.
He added: ” I think it was kind of a pipe dream, two teams that couldn’t do it, killing time.”
Windhorst has already tipped Durant to leave the Suns in the summer, a take former NBA star Udonis Haslem agrees with.
One of the attractions for Durant to move to the Minnesota Timberwolves, would be for him to pair up with emerging superstar Anthony Edwards, his Team USA teammate.
Windhorst commented, “the truth is that they were inseparable”, referring to their time in the Olympic squad.
He added that if a trade were to occur in the summer, when both teams’ situations can be a little more fluid, could appeal to Durant.
“I think Kevin will be totally invested in Ant’s success,” he predicted.
