Report: Timberwolves Weren’t ‘Comfortable’ Trading For Kevin Durant

According to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Minnesota Timberwolves weren’t “comfortable” trading for Kevin Durant. 

The Timberwolves knew Durant only wanted to play for the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs or Miami Heat. 

“The Timberwolves, by contrast, had all but removed themselves from contention well before the weekend,” Stein wrote. “They were not comfortable making an aggressive trade pursuit knowing that Durant, even though he maintains a close friendship with Wolves star Anthony Edwards, ultimately did not want to land in Minnesota.

“Durant is entering the final year of his current contract at $54.7 million and made it known to teams pursuing him that he was only willing to sign a contract extension if traded to Houston, Miami or San Antonio.”

The Timberwolves have made the conference finals two years in a row. They have a bright future and didn’t want to risk trading for a player who didn’t want to be with them. 

The Phoenix Suns traded Durant to the Rockets, who parted ways with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year’s NBA Draft and and five second-round picks.

Durant spoke to Kay Adams at Fanatics Fest in New York after the Suns traded him to the Rockets, who had the second-best record in the West this season. 

Adams asked Durant, the eighth leading scorer in NBA history, why he wanted to get traded to the Rockets. 

“They just had a great season last year,” Durant said. “Love their leadership. And I felt like I’d be a good addition.”

Durant remains a deadly offensive player despite turning 37 in September. He averaged 26.6 points for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line. 

A future Hall of Famer, Durant has one year left on his contract. KD can extend with Houston for up to two years, $122.1 million starting on July 6.