The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off a 2024-25 season that saw them reach the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year.
The Wolves' two-year run is in many ways a testament to the meteoric rise of Anthony Edwards.
But is Minny's offense too one-dimensional? In both playoff runs, defenses swarmed Edwards, daring others to step up, and the Wolves lacked a consistent second scoring threat to alleviate the pressure.
As the offseason looms, Minnesota’s aggressive front office, led by Tim Connelly, could pursue a blockbuster trade to fix the above issue.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes recently discussed this.
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“The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly went after Kevin Durant at the February trade deadline, didn't get him, and then saw playoff defenses throw the kitchen sink at Anthony Edwards because they didn't have a second player who was capable of generating consistently good looks," Hughes wrote.
"KD would make opponents think a lot harder about selling out against Edwards and daring someone else to beat them. Even in his age-36 season last year, he was once again among the most dangerous scoring threats in the league, averaging 26.6 points on a 52.7/43.0/83.9 shooting split. The tricky part for the Wolves will be looping in a third team and/or finding ways to cobble together enough assets to land Durant."
"It'll be hard for Minnesota to have the best offer if there's an open bidding war," Hughes continued.
"Best-case scenario: Durant strongly indicates he wants to play with Edwards, other teams don't put up their absolute best trade packages as a result, and the Suns have few alternatives.”
Durant, a 15-time All-Star, would be a game-changer alongside Edwards. His elite three-level scoring and versatility would force defenses to rethink their approach, creating space for Edwards to operate.
The Timberwolves’ interest in Durant isn’t new, as alluded to by Hughes. Minnesota made a serious push at the February 2025 trade deadline for KD, though salary cap constraints—both teams being over the second apron—stymied the deal. With the offseason offering more flexibility, including cap exceptions and potential third-team facilitators, the Wolves are reportedly revisiting the pursuit.
Minnesota lacks tradable first-round picks beyond the No. 17 pick in 2025, having dealt significant draft capital for Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. A deal could center around Julius Randle (if he opts into his $30.9 million player option) or Gobert, paired with young talents like Rob Dillingham or Terrence Shannon Jr.
Minnesota is reportedly reluctant to part with Jaden McDaniels, a defensive stalwart. The Suns, seeking to retool around Devin Booker after missing the playoffs, might demand a haul, with reports suggesting three first-round picks and a young player as their ideal return.
Edwards, who has called Durant his favorite player, shares a bond from their Team USA stint, adding allure to a potential union.
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