Could the Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors employ an already-proven strategy with Kevin Durant?
The Kevin Durant trade saga is heating up. With each passing day, we find out more and more about where the Phoenix Suns superstar will end up ahead of next season.
Earlier this week, Kevin Durant was linked to five different NBA teams in possible trade scenarios. Then, as the week went on, we learned that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets were leading the Kevin Durant sweepstakes.
Things escalated further when reports suggested that the Timberwolves were pulling ahead in the race to land KD.
However, in a crucial update, Shams Charania revealed that Durant’s preferred teams are the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat – the latter two of which were seemingly far behind in the race.
It’s clear Durant would be open to signing a long-term extension with these three teams. However, one NBA insider believes Durant’s hesitation on an extension might not sway two other teams away from a deal.
Kevin Durant is about to enter the final year of his contract. While Durant will only commit long-term to his preferred list of teams, this isn’t a deal breaker for all teams.
Brett Siegel reported that both the Timberwolves and the Raptors are considering landing Durant, knowing he might not sign a long-term contract with them.
“This is the most important part in Kevin Durant trade chatter. The Timberwolves are one of the teams that have continued to discuss the possibility of pursuing Durant without a long-term commitment, sources said. I am also told Toronto has held ongoing internal discussions.”
Interestingly, Shams also reported that the Suns will send Durant to the team that offers the best package, which could be outside of his preferred list of teams.
This would be similar to what the Raptors did with Kawhi Leonard – trading for him in the final year of his deal, winning a championship, and losing him in free agency.
However, while the Raptors don’t quite have the roster to compete for a championship, the Timberwolves are in the exact position the Raptors were when they traded for Leonard.
In 2018, the Toronto Raptors had come off three consecutive playoff humiliations, all at the hands of the eventual NBA Finalists – the Cleveland Cavaliers.
By trading for Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors took a massive leap. While it helped that LeBron James, the Raptors’ kryptonite, had left the East, the Raptors’ roster finally began living up to its potential.
Their risk worked out well, as Leonard led the Raptors to an NBA championship. Leonard’s one year with the Raptors is one of the best short-term stints in NBA history.
The Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in a similar position. They’ve lost to the eventual NBA finalists in the last two seasons, coming up short in the Western Conference Finals.
Perhaps adding a superstar like Durant, even if it’s in the short term, could give them the boost they need. The Timberwolves can always convince Durant to stay with a strong playoff run.
As the Kevin Durant saga continues to escalate, it’s clear that no team is out of the running. In fact, new teams are being urged to enter the race each day. Stay tuned to NBA Analysis Network, as we look to bring you the latest on this developing situation.
