Jazz could be big winners of Kevin Durant trade — without doing anything

Even though the Utah Jazz are not among the teams pursuing Kevin Durant, they have the potential to emerge as quiet yet big-time winners of his eventual trade—so long as the Phoenix Suns send him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This initially flies in the face of conventional logic. Western Conference teams should, in theory, be rooting for Durant to be jettisoned to the Eastern Conference, if only so they don’t have to face him and whatever new contender he creates as often. Utah doesn’t need to care about those logistics. It is far enough away from going full bore after a playoff berth that blockbuster transactions from surrounding squads do little, if anything, to impact their direction or window.

The Jazz, in this case, are best off if Durant gets shipped to the Wolves, at which time two of their top trade assets could skyrocket in value. 

A Kevin Durant trade could impact the Jazz's future draft picks

Utah has control over Minnesota’s first-rounders in 2026 (swap), 2027, and 2029. Those first two selections aren’t looking so hot. The Wolves are working off consecutive conference finals appearances, and absent an inexplicable teardown in Minnesota, the Jazz won’t be good enough to exercise next year’s swap, and won’t be getting a lottery selection in 2027. 

That 2029 first may not be any great shakes, either. The Wolves aren’t the NBA’s youngest team, but Anthony Edwards (23), Naz Reid (25), Jaden McDaniels, Rob Dillingham (20), and Terrence Shannon Jr. (24) are all under the age of 2026.

Trading for KD only adds to that core. The Jazz are much less likely to use that 2026 swap if he’s in Minnesota next season.

After that, though, all bets are off.

Durant turns 37 in September. Having him on your squad inherently shortens your window to contend. It’s also not like the Wolves would be landing him for nothing. He would cost some combination of Dillingham, Shannon, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle (player option), Donte DiVincenzo, and the No. 17 pick. Minnesota’s long-term asset base is shaky. It gets even shakier following a KD deal.

This opportunity cost will be worth it if he carves out a multiyear window of more formidable title contention. But that requires him to stay on the Wolves. He is entering the final year of his contract, and while he will be eligible for a two-year, $120-plus million extension after getting traded, he doesn’t have Minnesota on his list of preferred destinations. 

On the contrary, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Durant has no interest in joining the Timberwolves. Acquiring him could realistically result in a one-year rental.

Think of where that would leave Minnesota entering the 2026-27 campaign: with fewer assets than before, more reliant on Edwards than ever, attempting to tread water in a Western Conference that chews up and spits out mediocrity, poised to send two of their next three first-round picks to Utah.

The value of future Jazz trade assets could go through the roof

Granted, the Jazz don’t need KD to flee from the Wolves after one year to win this trade scenario. That 2027 first-rounder already had limited value, and can only improve. This is more about the 2029 selection—an unprotected pick that could transform into a down-the-road crown jewel.

Even if Durant sticks in Minnesota beyond next season, he’s unlikely to be part of the 2028-29 Wolves. If he is, he will be playing out his age-40 season. There is no telling what he looks like then, more than three years from now. 

Basically, if Durant ends up on Minnesota, that 2029 first Utah owns will almost assuredly soar in value, while the 2027 pick enjoys worst-case-scenario-for-the-Wolves upside it didn’t have before. 

Jazz fans may struggle to get excited about a prospect they won’t see for the better part of a half-decade. That’s fair. But this isn’t just about who that pick can be. It’s about what it can be used for in the years to come. Utah will be able to dangle it in future trade talks as a primo asset that can help significantly improve a better version of this team pivoting into win-now mode.

So for the time being, Jazz fans should also consider themselves Timberwolves fans. You’re rooting for them to ignore KD’s wish list, and trade for him anyway. Utah’s own future stands to be much better off for it.