The Minnesota Timberwolves may end up as the biggest losers of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. With an open championship window and a strong roster, Minnesota had a lot to gain from acquiring Durant. Instead, it was the Houston Rockets who landed the superstar, reportedly giving up Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick in the NBA Draft to make the deal happen.
As the Western Conference continues to get stronger, missing out on Durant could hurt the Timberwolves more than they realize. Minnesota has reached the Western Conference Finals two years in a row but has fallen short both times. The one player who might have finally pushed them over the hump? Kevin Durant.
Much like Houston realized, Minnesota discovered that they need more offense. When Anthony Edwards was taken out of games, the Wolves often struggled to score. While Oklahoma City’s elite perimeter defense certainly played a role, the postseason made it clear: this team needs another shot creator.
That’s why missing out on Durant stings—and why they may live to regret it. To make matters worse, they’ll now have to face Durant in a revamped Houston offense, which already looks more potent than what he had in Phoenix.
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Minnesota’s Road to a Championship Just Got Tougher
Durant staying in the West shifts the balance again
Had the Timberwolves secured Durant, they would’ve been in a similar position to where the Rockets are now: win-now contenders with a legitimate shot at the Finals. They’ve proven capable of making deep playoff runs, but consistently fall short of breaking through.
Minnesota now faces the same kind of dilemma that the Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with—an excellent core that might’ve hit its ceiling. The Wolves don’t necessarily need to rebuild, but standing still isn’t an option either. Competing with the likes of Houston and OKC will require another bold move.
Trading Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle was supposed to be that move, but it didn’t bring the desired results. Now, the front office has to decide what comes next. Kevin Durant was expected to be that final piece—and with him gone, the Wolves’ championship window is narrowing.
Unless they bring in real offensive help for Edwards, the Timberwolves may remain just a step behind the elite. After falling in five games to both the Mavericks and Thunder, it’s clear: this team is still one star away from turning a Western Conference Finals appearance into a trip to the NBA Finals.
