The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the verge of breaking through with Anthony Edwards.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, on the back of Anthony Edwards, have made two Western Conference Finals in a row and are clearly one of the better teams in the NBA. The Wolves firmly belong to Edwards, who is the third number one pick they have built around in the last 15 seasons.
Minnesota has tried surrounding him with Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle, although adding an even more efficient scorer (and proven winner) around him seems to be the best course of action.
The Wolves tried to add Kevin Durant before the trade deadline and are expected to pursue him again this offseason, and adding him would immediately bolster their title chances, although it comes at quite a cost.
Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty ImagesMock trade sends Durant to Timberwolves
A “Big Three” of Durant, Edwards, and Rudy Gobert should work for a key reason. Both Durant and Edwards are able to score from the perimeter, and Gobert doesn’t command attention on offense, instead serving as one of the best defenders in NBA history.
Unlike Durant’s past offensive-heavy “superteams” like the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, the Wolves would be able to keep a defensive-minded supporting cast in town.
Full Mock Trade Details:
Timberwolves receive: Kevin DurantSuns receive: Julius Randle, Terrence Shannon Jr., Mike Conley, 17th overall pick, 2028 pick swap
The Suns have made it clear that they would like three picks and a young player for Durant, although a solid young player in Shannon Jr. and two picks, as well as two expiring contracts in Randle and Conley, should be able to get the job done.
The Suns desperately need financial flexibility, and Randle, Conley, and Bradley Beal will all be free agents in 2026, provided Beal opts out of his contract.
With Durant in town, the Wolves have two elite scorers, a perennial DPOTY in Gobert, and two-way role players like Donte DiVincenzo and Jaden McDaniels.
On paper, the trade seems perfect, although one thing could hold the Wolves back.
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty ImagesNaz Reid’s free agency throws a wrench in the trade
Backup center Naz Reid, one of the best floor-spacers in the NBA, has a $15 million player option next season.
In order for the proposed trade to work, Randle would have to opt into his option, knowing he would get traded to Phoenix, and Reid would have to opt out, exploring free agency.
Reid is expected to pursue a bigger role and more money this offseason, and Minnesota seemed unlikely to be able to bring him back, anyway, with teams like the LA Lakers, Detroit Pistons, and San Antonio Spurs expected to make him offers.
While the Wolves can still compete without Reid, he is a key part of their title hopes, and with a solid core in place, shaking things up for a superstar might not be the best idea, although the Timberwolves are the closest they have ever been to becoming perennial title favorites, so a splashy move is to be expected.