Panic levels rise as Kevin Durant gets close to superstar Olympic teammate

The best part of the Olympic Games from a basketball perspective is watching the galaxy of stars that is Team USA come together and take on the rest of the world. Where else are you going to get Stephen Curry and LeBron James teamming up in a competitive game?

It is also cool to see these players show a bit of their personalities both around each other, and in the unique situation of being away from home for an extended period of time. Devin Booker being the latest example, with his adventures in Paris being lapped up by fans around the world.

But what about when star players get too friendly, causing fans to worry about them potentially leaving to team up with their new pals elsewhere?

Kevin Durant is no stranger to this scenario playing out. Before landing with Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets, the pair were glued to one another throughout an entire All-Star Weekend, which led to speculation they were talking about playing together. That did happen, and we could be witnessing it happening again with Durant in 2024.

Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves has gushed on several occasions now about Durant being his favorite player ever. Even when he was sweeping Durant and the Suns out of the postseason, he has nothing but great things to say about the 35-year-old. Needless to say, getting to team up at an Olympic Games is a dream for Edwards.

But could he actually be recruiting Durant to Minnesota in the process? As this writer discussed on the "Golden State with Mates" podcast recently, it is incredibly easy to put Durant's name in trade rumors. He's moved teams on several occasions now, and it's not like the Suns are going to trade Booker and they can't move Bradley Beal.

Durant has also been quick to shoot down these rumors that continue to follow him around, saying earlier this offseason that "You could just press the, 'KD want to leave' button anytime you want some attention. Yes, it’s a button. What else is gonna get people going around this time? Besides, 'Oh, the journeyman is leaving again'.

All of that may be true - and there is zero indication to think Durant wants to leave The Valley right now - but the comments of Edwards might still concern fans. It wasn't so long ago that the Timberwolves appeared to be trying to start some beef that wasn't even there, but Edwards is way past that now.

As he revealed to Sam Amick of The Athletic; "I love that he’s (Durant) coming off the bench. I get to play with him, so I hope coach keeps bringing him off the bench. I get to pass it to him. He gets to pass it back. That’s probably one of my biggest dreams ever, so that’s dope."

Durant appears to have a high opinion of the new star on the block as well, going so far as to say that "you win the game, do whatever you want" after some antics by Edwards as his team were tossing the Suns out of the postseason last season.

Prior to the two teaming up in Paris, Durant also mentioned that he was "so impressed man. So impressed with him. My favorite player to watch. Just grown so much since he came into the league... that's one of the reasons why I like him the most, because he just loves basketball. Love everything about Ant, everything."

Let's hope Booker is not the jealous type, because the chemistry and love for one another's games that Durant and Edwards clearly have while coming off the bench for Team USA is clear for all to see. Worse yet, although the Suns are stuck in the second apron and can't make many trades, a deal involving Durant for Karl-Anthony Towns actually works financially on both ends too.

We're a little way off having to worry about that, and Minnesota has never been a destination for players. Then again, there haven't been many 22-year-olds like Edwards before either, and you could make the case the Timberwolves are better primed to win it all than the Suns at this point. Yikes.