As the Phoenix Suns explore potential Kevin Durant trades this summer, they should seriously consider dealing him to the Minnesota Timberwolves and targeting Rob Dillingham in the return package. Dillingham had an injury-plagued rookie season, but he showed huge flashes of potential and could be a perfect youngster for the Suns to add to their roster.
Durant is almost definitely going to be moved this summer, and the Wolves have reportedly shown interest in the past. Add in Anthony Edwards’ love for Durant and the decent young players Phoenix could get in return, and this deal could make some sense for both sides involved.
But what would it look like?
What would a Kevin Durant-Timberwolves trade look like?
A trade between these two sides would be very complicated, as both squads are pressed up against the aprons heading into next season. However, it wouldn’t be impossible.
One of Julius Randle or Rudy Gobert would almost certainly have to be in the deal. However, there could be a world where the Wolves send Phoenix Naz Reid in a sign-and-trade, but the Suns would have to be under the aprons once the deal is completed, as apron teams can’t take back players in sign-and-trades (and that seems unlikely).
Still, the Suns would be able to get back a solid player in Randle or Gobert, plus someone like Dillingham as the framework of a trade. It would probably also have to include a guy like Donte DiVincenzo or Mike Conley to make the money work.
It would be very tricky, but a deal isn’t impossible.
Why should the Suns want Rob Dillingham?
As the Suns look to move forward with their organization, adding young players with a lot of potential should be one of their top priorities. That’s exactly what Dillingham is.
The Wolves moved up in last year’s draft to select him with the eighth pick, but a deep rotation and injury issues held him out of the rotation for most of the year.
In Phoenix, Dillingham would theoretically have lots of wiggle room to play through his mistakes and blossom into the player he has the potential to be. The 6-foot-1 guard is a shifty bucket-getter who could turn into one of the most exciting guards in this league if given the opportunity.
Adding a guy like that next to Devin Booker (if the Suns don’t trade him, too) could give Phoenix a fun future to look forward to in the post-Durant era.
So, as the Suns explore potential Durant deals, Dillingham should be a guy they have at the top of their mind when looking at potential returns.