Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has been one of the primary topics of discussion in the offseason. After a disappointing end to the season with the Suns, Durant and the organization have mutually agreed to part ways.
The 36-year-old’s availability on the trade market has been gauged by several teams across the league. Considering how productive the forward was last season, it is evident that he is still capable of contributing. Unfortunately, acquiring Durant has been viewed as a challenge, primarily owing to his $54.7 million cap hit and Phoenix’s high asking price in draft compensation.
Teams such as the Spurs, the Knicks, and the Rockets have emerged as frontrunners for the most part. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves have also expressed a very genuine interest in the star. Intending to pair an “alpha” like Durant with their young star Anthony Edwards, the Wolves hope to form a dynamic duo.
This interest has seen the development of a number of trade proposals. The notion of pairing a master of offense with a talented young star is almost too exciting to pass up. And in light of this, we look at a potential trade package presented by CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn that could help Minnesota land Durant with the help of the Orlando Magic and the Brooklyn Nets.
Proposed Trade Details
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: Julius Randle, Mike Conley, Goga Bitadze, Terrence Shannon Jr, No. 25 pick
Orlando Magic Receive: Donte DiVincenzo
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Gary Harris, No. 46 pick
The Wolves Get Their Alpha
Acquiring Kevin Durant gives the Wolves exactly what they were looking for in a star. With Edwards, Minnesota has a franchise player who is capable of becoming the face of the league.
While the Wolves technically have all the right pieces in place, considering that they made it to the WCF two years in a row, it is abundantly clear that they are lacking in some way. Durant’s arrival could be enough to push them past this point.
Even at 36 years old, Durant put up an average of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 52.7% shooting from the field. His productivity on the offensive end could be the necessary punch the team needs from a star, since Julius Randle was scoring at a significantly lower clip.
Durant’s addition also has value from the point of championship pedigree. His experiences in the postseason would prove to be invaluable in guiding the team through the trials of the playoffs. While also factoring in his role as a mentor for Edwards, the Wolves could potentially see a whole new side to their 23-year-old franchise player.
The Suns Receive The Assets To Retool Their Roster
The Suns’ intentions of retooling have created a rather interesting situation regarding their approach to next season. While they have Devin Booker, it has also been made clear that they will simply be looking to add relevant personnel to help the team flourish.
In light of this, this trade proposal gives Phoenix the capable assets to facilitate this process.
Julius Randle was a solid contributor for the Timberwolves last season. As the secondary scoring option, he put up an average of 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds on an efficient 48.5% shooting from the field. Although he wasn’t the most consistent performer in the playoffs, he showed his capability as a supporting star, emerging as a great fit next to Booker.
Along with Randle, the Suns will also receive an experienced veteran guard in Mike Conley. Although his averages of 8.2 points and 4.6 assists per game from last season do not inspire much confidence, he remains an extremely capable floor general. His ability to attract defenders to the perimeter also adds to his value.
The final piece the Suns will be receiving from Minnesota in this trade is Terrence Shannon Jr. The rookie didn’t have enough opportunities to showcase his skills. However, a 25-point outburst against the Lakers displays a lot of potential for future growth.
From the Magic, Phoenix would see the arrival of big man Goga Bitadze and the No. 25 draft pick. Bitadze is a solid pickup. He is a legitimate center with a solid presence under the rim. Given Phoenix’s lack of a reliable center at this stage, he could easily step in to address the problem. Meanwhile, the No. 25 pick allows the team to draft a capable young player to help develop the team’s core.
The Magic Add Guard Depth
The Magic have the potential to be one of the most competitive teams in the East. Unfortunately, their frontcourt-heavy rotations have left a lot of room for exploring changes in their roster depth.
In this context, the arrival of Donte DiVincenzo addresses a lot of their problems. DiVincenzo is an extremely reliable two-way guard. As a veteran with playoff experience and championship pedigree, he is also capable of navigating the postseason.
Last season, DiVincenzo played a key role for the Wolves coming off the bench. With an average of 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, the guard showcased immense value as a distributor and a three-point threat.
Similarly, he could be a key player coming off Orlando’s bench. Filling in for a solid two-way starter in Jalen Suggs, DiVincenzo would seamlessly act as the bridge between the bench and the starting units.
The Nets Receive A Veteran And Draft Capital
The Nets, at this stage, are a team in the middle of a rebuild. While they finished at the bottom of the East, however, they have garnered some interest as a potential trade destination.
In this context, the Nets simply act as a conduit to help facilitate this trade. The move to acquire Gary Harris from Orlando only seeks to help the Magic shed salary. At $7.5 million, Harris has virtually no impact on Brooklyn’s cap. As an expiring contract, the team could also look to free up cap space by retaining him for the season.
The real gain in this trade for Brooklyn is the No. 46 pick from Orlando. Another second-round pick only serves to increase the Nets’ wealth of draft assets. This could, in turn, help them facilitate some major moves on draft night itself.
The Wolves Give Up Too Much For Durant
Acquiring Kevin Durant serves to be a monumental move for the Timberwolves. However, they would find themselves giving up too many key pieces to fulfill this trade.
The loss of DiVincenzo and Conley would leave the backcourt rotation depleted. Without a primary playmaker, the Wolves would need to head out into the trade market or look for another guard in free agency.
Meanwhile, the loss of Randle has a massive impact on the team’s ability to rebound. With Gobert becoming the primary anchor on the rebounding front, the Wolves may see an overall drop-off in productivity after this trade.
