The Minnesota Timberwolves recently traded for Jazz center Rudy Gobert, sending five players, four first-round picks, and a pick swap to Utah to get him.
And apparently, that was a backup plan, because they originally wanted Kevin Durant – and the Nets’ ask in that deal was too rich for their blood.
Yahoo! Sports’ Vincent Goodwill noted on an episode of the “Posted Up with Chris Haynes” podcast that the Nets asked for Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and four first-round picks for Durant.
Yes, Minnesota gave up more players and basically the same draft compensation, but given that KAT and Edwards are two of their best players – and KAT just signed his super-max extension – sending them to Brooklyn for Durant would have been a wash of sorts in terms of talent on the floor.
The Nets’ asking price for Durant has reportedly been very high, with some outlets reporting they want at least one “blue-chipper” in the deal, and the Athletic categorizing it as “established All-Stars and a mountain of picks.”
Durant is entering the first year of a four-year, $194 million extension he signed before last season, and has been linked to Phoenix and Miami as his top choices of preferred destinations.
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