Kevin Durant continues to do everything in his power to control where the Phoenix Suns will trade him.
Despite having the most expensive roster in the entire league, the Suns heavily underperformed during the 2024-25 season, failing to qualify for the play-in tournament.
As a result, the team is expected to make significant changes to its roster, with trading Durant now seen as a top priority. A trade package was reportedly being prepared and might have gone through if Durant hadn’t managed to force his way out of a tough situation, leaving the NBA community stunned.
Kevin Durant Does Not Want to Be Traded to Timberwolves
After it became clear that Durant would be moved, trade reports began to emerge, revealing the teams across the league that showed significant interest in acquiring the two-time NBA champion.
The Timberwolves were one of those teams, and many believed they were a potential destination for Durant, considering his relationship with Anthony Edwards.
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When the Suns attempted to initiate a three-team trade, including the Brooklyn Nets, which would send Durant to the Timberwolves, Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm reported that Durant shut down the process by declaring his unwillingness to play for the Timberwolves.
Moore wrote, “League sources have said the Nets were brought in as a potential third team in a deal construct, which would have helped move money and contracts to help both teams reshape their rosters. (No idea what they were getting or sending, but I would speculatively bet Nic Claxton to Phoenix was part of those talks.) But then KD did what it is his right, and sent out word that he doesn’t want to play there.”
The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly tried to construct a three-team deal with the Suns and Nets for Kevin Durant, but Durant shot it down, per @HPbasketball
“League sources have said the Nets were brought in as a potential third-team in a deal construct, which would have… pic.twitter.com/kSSqIRUpqh
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 18, 2025
By clarifying that he does not want to play for the Timberwolves, Durant made the organization reconsider making a trade for a star who would likely be unhappy and unwilling to stay. After all, Durant has just one year remaining on his current contract, meaning that the Timberwolves would have to convince him to sign an extension.
Since Durant is already an NBA champion and an accomplished superstar, these reports suggest that his desire to control the final years of his career outweighs his need to win another NBA championship.
It’s very likely that Durant would prefer joining a Texas team like the San Antonio Spurs or Houston Rockets instead of staying in Minnesota for the long term. Meanwhile, fans are left wondering if the Suns will accommodate him and work out a trade to one of his preferred destinations.
