The Timberwolves plan to chase Durant is revealed! The salary problem is to be solved, and the three generals may become the key

On June 2, Timberwolves' reporter Andrew Dukovitz revealed a big news: The Minnesota Timberwolves is exploring a possible solution to trade superstar Kevin Durant, with core chips locking in Julius Randle and a precious first-round pick. The salary gap has become the biggest obstacle, Dukovitz revealed that the basic framework envisioned by the Timberwolves is to send Randle, plus the Detroit Pistons' first round pick in 2025 (17th pick). However, the deal faces a huge salary matching challenge. Durant's annual salary next season is as high as $54.71 million, and Randle's salary is about $29.46 million if he chooses to implement his last year's player option, which is more than $25 million. The Timberwolves' salary operation space

report pointed out that the Timberwolves had a key premise: they renewed their contracts with Naz Reed and Alexander Walker at different times. By doing this, the team's total salary will be controlled below the "second tyrant line". This line is the strict luxury tax penalty line set by the NBA for teams with high spending. Below this line, players allowed to receive in the trade can be paid up to 125% of the salary given.

Still need to add a head to make up for the difference

Even though the 125% salary acceptance rule is used, Randall plus the salary of the rookie selected with the No. 17 pick (the starting salary for the rookie contract is about $3 million), there is still a significant gap between Durant's huge salary. This means that the Timberwolves must add more players to this deal as a "head" to match their salary.

The three potential candidates for the top three, Dukovitz, analyzed that one of the following three players is most likely to be included in the trade:

Donte Divinchenzo (annual salary of US$11.99 million): a high-quality 3D defender who can provide plug-and-play fire shooting and defense, which is an instant battle for any playoff team.

Rob Dillingham (rookie, annual salary of about $6.58 million): The potential star selected by the Timberwolves this year, as a high-ranking rookie (or trading right), has long-term cultivation value for the rebuilding Suns.

Mike Conley (annual salary of $10.77 million): an experienced veteran point guard, but older, the Suns may have limited interest in it.

Trading Outlook Outlook

Dukowitz's report emphasized that this is currently only a concept and exploration of the Timberwolves. The final formation of the deal faces multiple challenges, the core lies in whether the Timberwolves can properly handle their own salary structure to comply with the rules, and whether the proposed player package (Randall + first-round pick + extra head) can impress the Phoenix Suns who are aiming to rebuild.

With the offseason officially kicking off, the whereabouts of Durant, the top scorer, will undoubtedly become one of the most eye-catching points in the transfer market this summer. The Timberwolves' exposed plan kicked off this potential blockbuster deal.