Kevin Durant’s future remains the hottest topic heading into the offseason. Multiple franchises have emerged as potential suitors for the veteran superstar.
Reports suggest several teams are actively pursuing Durant, with the Oklahoma City Thunder viewed as instant dynasty if they complete a trade. The Houston Rockets and New York Knicks have also entered discussions.
Another intriguing possibility involves the Minnesota Timberwolves, who possess valuable assets and desperately need championship experience.
However, veteran NBA insider Zach Lowe believes a Durant acquisition wouldn’t be straightforward for Minnesota.
Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty ImagesMinnesota’s salary cap nightmare could be complicated for Durant‘s trade
The Timberwolves face significant financial obstacles that could derail any Kevin Durant pursuit. Their upcoming decisions on free agents Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker create a complex web of salary cap implications.
“The Minnesota situation is very complex because there are aprons involved for them. They have these three outgoing free agents in Randle, Naz Reid, and Alexander-Walker,” Lowe explained during a recent podcast appearance.
The insider highlighted how player options complicate Minnesota’s flexibility. “The first two of whom have player options that are not totally out of bounds from amounts they would take if they were attached to extensions.”
Free agency decisions impact Durant trade
Both Randle and Reid are likely to decline their player options and explore lucrative extensions, creating additional salary cap pressure for Minnesota. This scenario makes acquiring Durant’s $50 million salary significantly more challenging.
Without Randle, Reid, and potentially Mike Conley as matching salaries, a Durant deal becomes nearly impossible despite Minnesota’s valuable young assets like Rob Dillingham and Jaden McDaniels.
“I’ve heard in the last couple days Minnesota’s name come up vis-a-vis Durant and the combination of aprons and player options, and does Mike Conley have to get thrown in as a salary filler,” Lowe noted.
‘Loathed’ to trade Rob Dillingham
One potential solution involves trading Rudy Gobert alongside a promising player like Rob Dillingham.
Lowe believes this kind of package could work, though Minnesota would sacrifice their rim protection, and he says the young talent is not a player they would want to lose.
“You threw in Dillingham, I think they would just be loathed to do that. I am going Naz Reid at the five and we’re not going to care about defense at all anymore because we have such scoring prowess.”
This trade-off would fundamentally alter Minnesota’s identity, transforming them from a defensive powerhouse into an offensive juggernaut built around Anthony Edwards and Durant’s scoring ability and playmaking.