Famous US media reporter: Durant ranks first in the next company, Wolfs second in the Rockets! The trading plan is released

On June 14, according to well-known reporter Zach Lowe, he reached the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive seasons and after being eliminated, the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for the last piece of their championship puzzle and this puzzle is likely to be Kevin Durant and they are currently working hard to get a deal Durant said in the latest podcast episode Zach Lowe revealed that the Timberwolves are becoming the "most popular" potential next player in the rumors about Durant's trade. Lowe said that if Durant's potential next player is to be ranked first, the Timberwolves are now ranked first and the Houston Rockets are ranked second.

Minnesota Timberwolves' trade quote:

Wolves get: Kevin Durant

Suns get: Rudy Gobert, Dont Divinsonzo, Rob Dillingham

Sources told ESPN that the Wolves have pursued Durant before the trade deadline, and Minnesota basketball operations president Tim Connelly tries to diversify Anthony Edwards' idol's offense.

Benefits for the Timberwolves

A few months later, without Durant, the Wolves missed the Western Conference Finals after being suffocated by the tenacious defense of the Oklahoma City Thunder. They scored 103 or less in three of their four losses in the series.

Edwards, Durant and Julius Randle's scoring core would bring problems, even for defenses like Oklahoma City, and Naz Reid has approached Gobert's center position several times.

Benefits for the Suns: Continue to use Booker as the sole offensive core and bring defense

The Suns will win four defense player of the year on Gobert, with new coach Jordan Ott ranked 27th in the team’s defensive rating under the Phoenix last season under Mike Budenholzer. Not to mention, the two young defenders signed a cost-friendly deal (Divinsonzo owes $12 million next season; Dillingham $6.6 million), which could boost the Suns' offense around Devin Booker.

If the Wolves prioritize production over the existence of the locker room, the deal could be adjusted, including Mike Conley (a $10.8 million expiration contract) in lieu of Divinsonzo and draft assets, as Conley believes Conley's best days are over. Conley will be a direct ally of Ultra as a cultural leader as the Suns try to restore decency after two disappointing seasons in a row, making their 2021 Finals spot seem like a distant memory.

Rockets get: Kevin Durant

Suns get: Dillon Brooks, Reed Shepard, Cam Whitmore, Jock Landaer, 2025 No. 10 pick, 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix)

Rockets are the Suns' natural trading partner, and there are two main reasons for the Rockets: Maximum intensity improves their scoring at critical moments

First, Durant cleverly scored the ball into Houston's biggest loophole. Thanks to a shiny young core and fierce defense, the Rockets are rising in the West. But they lack the preferred scorer they need to lead their contenders, and according to Cleaning the Glass, they ranked only 22nd in the half-court offense this season. The lack of offensive momentum has left the Rockets losing a deep score in the playoffs, as Houston scored no more than 93 points in three of the four postseason losses to Golden State.

Even at the age of 36, Durant represents a significant advancement in this field. His usage and real shooting percentage are much higher than any player in the Houston rotation. Unless Giannis Antetokounmpo explicitly requests a trade to Houston, Durant will be the best opportunity to upgrade this summer. Fred VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option was denied at the hard cap of the first luxury tax line as Houston recovered more salaries in the deal. The Rockets will re-sign the defender with a starting salary of $25 million. The reduction in Van Vreett's contract also allowed Houston management to re-sign Steven Adams today (39 million in 3 years)

The benefits for the Suns: reclaiming their future and having more young players

The Rockets control the Phoenix's draft picks in 2025 (10th overall), 2027 and 2029, which the Suns initially sent to Brooklyn when trading Durant. Regaining some or all of the draft picks will give Phoenix a full cycle of Durant era and will also allow the team to do whatever it wants in the future without worrying about possible loss of the lottery pick.

At the same time, this return may also help Phoenix form a competitive roster around Devin Booker to avoid a full rebuild. Brooks is a useful 3D wing with a contract falling and he can fill a hole in the Suns’ perimeter defense. Shepard didn’t find his footing in Houston’s rookie season, but the No. 3 draft pick offers more room for upside than any player on the Phoenix roster. So is Whitmore, who occasionally is a great scorer (22 points per 36 minutes of his career) and he doesn’t meet enough other conditions to earn more trust from coach Ime Udoka.

Phoenix will get the young talent and draft picks it lacks, while Houston will upgrade from Brooks to Durant without sacrificing anyone else in the current core. (Sheppard, Whitmore and Landale played a total of 20 minutes in the playoffs. It seemed like a win-win deal.