Durant Does Not Want To Join The Timberwolves And Play With Edwards
Durant Does Not Want To Join The Timberwolves And Play With Edwards originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are the most ambitious team in pursuing Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade. Unfortunately for the Timberwolves and their fans, Durant has expressed interest in three other teams.
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According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Durant has no desire to be in Minnesota. That is an unfortunate report for Timberwolves fans who wanted to pair Durant with Anthony Edwards. However, the door is still open, considering the Phoenix Suns will make the final decision.
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
As one of the best players of the past two decades, Durant deserves a huge trade package in return. He is a championship-level superstar, as proven by his two Finals MVP awards for the Golden State Warriors in the late 2010s.
Even at 36, Durant is still a superstar who can lead a team to a championship. The Timberwolves are close to winning a title with their two consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances. They want to chase Durant to pair with Edwards, but the two-time Finals MVP is not a fan of the move.
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Related: Zach Lowe Admits The Kevin Durant Trade To The Timberwolves Is Challenging
Durant Wants To Play For Houston, San Antonio, Or Miami
Conflicting reports have been scattered around the league. However, Charania is the most trusted insider, which means the Durant report of not wanting to play for Minnesota is significant. He wants to play for the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, or Miami Heat.
Those are the teams that can offer a long-term contract extension for him. That is an understandable reason, as the next deal is likely his final NBA contract.
"I'm told the Phoenix Suns remain in active conversations on a Kevin Durant deal. Their focus in the last few days is three teams, the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. We know his preferred destinations are the Rockets, Spurs, and Heat," Charania said on SportsCenter. "I'm told Durant has no desire to be in Minnesota for the Timberwolves. How does that shape the Minnesota Timberwolves and other teams that could have interest in him?"
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It is a big blow to what Minnesota has planned, but the Timberwolves are still working out a deal. They want Durant, and they can still get him despite his hesitance to join the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves Make The Most Basketball Sense
Even though Durant is not a big fan of moving to Minnesota, it does make the most sense in potential success. Working with Anthony Edwards is a dream partnership, as both players are superstars who can take over games.
Edwards needs a secondary star because he struggled when Julius Randle struggled in key games during the 2025 Playoffs. With Durant, Edwards can defer to a proven superstar who can create a shot for himself.
The Timberwolves need someone who can be a clutch scorer outside of Edwards. They are relying too much on him, which limits the team's potential.
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They are already playing at a high level, reaching two consecutive Western Conference Finals. However, they need that extra edge to take them beyond their initial limits and compete for a championship in the NBA Finals.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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