The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly on the cusp of a blockbuster trade to acquire Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. But as the deal nears the finish line, a pressing concern looms: Durant has made it clear he doesn’t want to play in Minnesota.
During an appearance on the Hoop Collective Podcast, Brian Windhorst painted the situation as highly competitive and complex:
“We’re in the very thick of it with this Kevin Durant thing,” he said. “My feel is that if the Timberwolves wanted it, they could probably get a trade for Durant done. The question is – and Durant has made it very clear that he does not have the Wolves on his list.”
Durant’s explicit absence of interest, confirmed by ESPN’s Shams Charania, adds an unexpected layer to the negotiations:
Durant has “no desire, no interest in playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.”
While Minnesota has the assets to land Durant, doing so against his expressed will would be unconventional and could disrupt locker room dynamics. As Windhorst pointedly asked:
“If you’re Minnesota, do you trade for a player who doesn’t want to be there? Who very clearly doesn’t want to be there?”
The Wolves must now weigh the value of adding a future Hall of Famer against the potential drawbacks of forcing him onto a roster he’s declined.
Durant has played 17 seasons for 4 teams, including the Thunder and Nets. He has averaged 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 1,123 regular-season games. He was selected to play in 14 All-Star games.
He has won the Rookie of the Year award, 1 MVP award, 2 Finals MVP awards, and 2 NBA championships.
Wolves Likely In Position To Trade For Kevin Durant If They Choose https://t.co/6dDWag1yfW
— RealGM (@RealGM) June 18, 2025
