Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Kevin Durant To Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns To Suns

One NBA analyst proposed that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns make a blockbuster trade this offseason. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Timberwolves and Suns:

The trade: The Minnesota Timberwolves trade Karl-Anthony Towns, the No. 27 pick and the No. 37 pick to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant

“Would Minnesota opt for the challenge trade route? Durant is even more expensive now, but he wouldn’t carry the same long-term costs,” Buckley wrote. “He’s also far more proven on basketball’s biggest stage, not to mention more versatile on defense and better equipped to handle shot-creation duties. And it’s hard to imagine soaring Wolves star Anthony Edwards would mind suiting up alongside his ‘favorite player of all time.’ 

“As for the Suns, they might already feel stuck with the Durant-Devin Booker–Bradley Beal trio, and this would help create a little wiggle room. They’d have additional assets to help flesh out the roster, a tall task as currently constructed since they’re over the second apron. They might also widen their window by swapping out the 35-year-old Durant for 28-year-old Towns, who has talked about reuniting with former Kentucky teammate Booker.”

Durant will make $49.9 million next season and $53.3 million in 2025-26. The NBA legend averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season for the Suns while shooting 52.3% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 85.6% from the free-throw line.

Towns will make $49.4 million next season. The All-Star averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks this season for the Timberwolves while shooting 50.4% from the field, 41.6% from beyond the arc and 87.3% from the free-throw line. 

The Timberwolves swept the Suns in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. Since leaving the Golden State Warriors, Durant has won only two playoff series. He’s been swept twice in the first round of the postseason. 

The Suns fired Frank Vogel after one season and hired Mike Budenholzer. The franchise enters the offseason with $209 million in salary, the biggest payroll of any NBA team, and faces a projected luxury tax penalty of $116 million.

Towns or Rudy Gobert have to be traded for the Timberwolves to avoid paying a massive luxury tax bill under the new CBA.