While the trade window has long been closed, the transfers that made major headlines during the period are still burning subjects. Moreover, with time more and more trade plans that never materialized are getting unveiled. In the process, a staggering attempt made by the Minnesota Timberwolves has been revealed.
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Timberwolves Attempted to Sign Kevin Durant from the Suns
As Kevin Durant was seen as the hottest property in the trade window along with Jimmy Butler, Timberwolves endeavored to land the forward from the Phoenix Suns ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
According to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, "Minnesota's own approach for Durant was serious enough, sources say, that the Timberwolves were calling rival teams over the final few days before the Feb. 6 deadline buzzer sounded. The Wolves were working the phones in hopes of finding avenues to get under the NBA's second luxury tax apron and then be able to aggregate contracts, all with the intent of landing Durant and his $51 million salary this season next to his Olympic running mate Anthony Edwards."
A pursuit to bring Durant on board made all the sense for the Timberwolves, as the franchise was on the lookout to find a true No.2 for Edwards after trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. Julius Randle (18.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 4.5 APG) has served in that role, but Durant (26.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 BPG) would have been a massive upgrade.
Edwards has also noted in the past that Durant was his favorite player of all time.
"My GOAT? Man, this is going to sound crazy, but Kevin Durant," Edwards told ESPN's Malika Andrews in Feb. 2024. "... I've always just been a fan, watching him play as a kid. He's the first seven-footer I've seen putting the ball on the floor, scoring off the dribble, so I've always been a big fan."