Suns Tried To Trade Kevin Durant To Timberwolves For Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo

The Phoenix Suns tried to trade Kevin Durant to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. 

Talks faded after the Timberwolves learned Durant didn’t want to play for them. 

The Suns wound up trading Durant to the Houston Rockets. 

“Before taking the Rockets offer, the Suns had in-depth discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves about moving Durant for a package that included star center Rudy Gobert, guard Donte DiVincenzo, promising forward Terrence Shannon Jr. and the 17th pick in this year’s draft, sources told ESPN,” Windhorst wrote. 

The Suns traded Durant to the Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and six draft picks. 

Durant averaged 26.6 points last season for the Suns while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka worked with Durant when the two were with the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21. They have a good relationship. 

According to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Durant is “incredibly excited” about getting traded to the Rockets. 

“According to a source close to Durant, the future Hall of Famer is ‘incredibly excited’ about the opportunity to join a contender in Houston, surrounded by a talented coaching staff and top-five defensive unit,” Iko and Amick wrote. “The news broke just as he was being interviewed in New York for Fanatics Fest, with the 14-time All-Star letting out a huge grin in front of hundreds of adoring fans.

“Durant has one season remaining on his current contract (worth $54.7 million). Yet while he may not sign an extension when he’s eligible in July, team sources said there is a strong belief that this will be a long-term partnership. On paper, the Rockets’ potential looks extremely promising.”

A 15-time All-Star, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Nets and Suns. He won back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with the Warriors.