Timberwolves must choose between two big men this summer

Randle has a 2025-26 player option for just under $31M, and Reid, the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year, has a player option for $15M. They're both essential to the Timberwolves, but in the Western Conference Finals, lineups where the two forwards played together were shredded by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For Randle, there aren't a lot of teams with enough salary cap space to sign him. If the Brooklyn Nets or Detroit Pistons aren't interested, Randle's best bet might be to pick up his player option. Reid could certainly get a raise on his 2025-26 salary, plus the 25-year-old wants to be a starter.

With Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels entrenched as starters in the frontcourt, the only way Reid would crack the starting lineup is if Randle departs. Based on finances and available minutes, the Timberwolves appear to be faced with a choice between two players they value.

There's one solution where the Timberwolves can resolve their logjam, clean up their finances and avoid losing either player for nothing: Trading for Kevin Durant.

If Durant is willing to go to Minnesota, Randle is the ideal centerpiece for a deal that would send them back to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have dealt nearly all of their draft picks, so they want players back from a Durant trade, not prospects. Devin Booker is the future of the Suns, and Randle is still a good player.

Moving Randle, along with perhaps Donte DiVincenzo and a young player like rookie Terrence Shannon Jr., or possibly this year's No. 17 and/or No. 31 pick, might get Durant to Minneapolis. At that point, Reid and free agent Nickeil Alexander-Walker could both come back.

The Wolves could bring everyone back and figure out the tax and on-court implications later, but it's hard to imagine that both Reid and Randle will be Timberwolves a year from now.