T he Minnesota Timberwolves‘ pursuit of Kevin Durant is not getting any help from their franchise star Anthony Edwards, who has kept a distance from the trade talks amid his fondness for his Team USA teammate.
According to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Edwards is not recruiting his “favorite player of all time.”
“Talked to some people close to Anthony Edwards,” ESPN’s Marc J. Spears said on “NBA Today” on June 18. “This is a non-story. He’s in Atlanta working out. He loves his former teammate. He loves his current teammates. Some people close to me said he’s focused on what’s next with this team. And he’s not flying to L.A. to try to convince K.D. anything different.”
Edwards’ fondness of Durant is well-documented.
The Timberwolves star admitted he had mixed emotions after he led the Timberwolves in sweeping Durant and the Suns in the first round of the playoffs last year.
“I felt bad a little bit, only because he’s my favorite player of all time,” Edwards said at the time. “I didn’t wanna send him home like that.”
They later teamed up in Team USA’s gold medal run in the 2024 Paris Olympics and they were inseparable.
Timberwolves Not on Kevin Durant’s Wish List
The Timberwolves are not on Durant’s list of preferred landing spots, which are the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, per ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
Charania later reported that Durant sent a clear message to the Timberwolves.
“I’m told Durant has no desire to be in Minnesota with the Timberwolves,” Charania said on SportsCenter on June 16.
But the Timberwolves have the high-impact players that the Suns prefer over what the three teams on Durant’s list have offered, according to Sam Amick and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
“The Suns have made it clear to Durant’s camp that they need to prioritize the best return for the team in a deal. What’s more, they appear focused on landing the kind of impact players who can help now as opposed to prioritizing draft picks,” Amick and Krawczynski wrote.
Minnesota may lack the draft capital but they have the high-impact players which Phoenix are looking for.
“The Wolves would seem to have options available to offer, with Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle headlining a package that could give the Suns hopes of contending,” Amick and Krawczynski wrote.
Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-Star and All-NBA center. Randle is a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA forward.
Anthony Edwards’ Action Speaks Volumes
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that Edwards’ inhibiting himself from the Timberwolves’ pursuit of Durant says a lot.
“That’s legitimately an important piece of information,” Windhorst said on “NBA Today” after Spears reported Edwards’ inaction. “Ant is not recruiting Durant. Durant says he doesn’t want to be in Minnesota. The deal is not done. This is not heading towards Minnesota. Obviously things can change. This is not heading like Durant is going to Minnesota. Spears is making it very clear the way Ant is feeling.”
The Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference Finals for two straight seasons and fell short. Their front office views Durant as the player who could get them over the hump. But the feelings isn’t mutual as Durants prefers the sunny vibes in Miami, Houston and San Antonio over the frigid weather in Minnesota.
And Edwards is not forcing the issue.
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