Jaden McDaniels Reportedly Not Being Included By Wolves in Kevin Durant Trade Talks

If a Kevin Durant trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves is to materialize, 24-year-old Jaden McDaniels will not be part of the deal.

Matching Durant’s salary is a challenge for most teams and the Timberwolves reportedly have no intention of including the money tied to their former first-round pick in McDaniels, per The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. 

However, players like Julius Randle, who holds a $31 million player option for next season, or Rudy Gobert, with a $35 million salary, could help balance a potential trade and serve as valuable assets for the Phoenix Suns to build an immediate playoff contention team surrounding franchise player Devin Booker.

"It does not appear that Phoenix wants to tear down and rebuild as part of this trade," Krawczynski wrote. "Randle and Gobert both figured prominently in Minnesota’s run to the conference finals last season. Both are floor-raisers for the regular season at a minimum, and both had big moments in the playoffs before struggling in the conference finals against OKC."

The trade could serve as the missing link for both teams: the Suns are in need of a reliable big man, while the Timberwolves are looking for another superstar to help alleviate pressure on Anthony Edwards.

Durant and Edwards built up a "bromance" during the 2024 Olympics that would provide as a smooth transaction into the league if the two were to team up in Minnesota.

“Guys, Ant Edwards is trailing Kevin Durant around like [Durant is his] big brother,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said (h/t The Ringer). “Literally, Ant gets off the bus with Durant. When they warm up before practice, Ant is standing next to Durant. ... Ant cannot get enough of him.” 

The 23-year-old and 36-year-old quickly formed a big-brother, little-brother relationship — one that Edwards called a dream come true while playing alongside him.

“I love that he’s (Durant's) coming off the bench,” Edwards said after Team U.S.A played South Sudan. “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.”

NBA trades can become official starting July 6 this offseason, as teams and fans alike anxiously await the outcome of the Durant sweepstakes.