Timberwolves fans are laughing at the latest Kevin Durant development

The Minnesota Timberwolves aggressively pursued Kevin Durant during the trade deadline and throughout the summer. However, Durant was not interested in joining the Timberwolves and was ultimately traded to the Houston Rockets. Durant's contract extension demands were a major factor in trade discussions, and reports indicate he would not have signed an extension with Minnesota. While it wasn't guaranteed the Timberwolves would have offered the full two-year, $122 million extension, their strong interest suggests they likely would have offered Durant a similar contract if he had been open to joining them.

Recent reporting by ESPN's Tim MacMahon indicates the Houston Rockets are unlikely to offer Durant his full max extension. MacMahon stated the Rockets appear unwilling to "go all-in" on a max extension for Durant, suggesting they might not offer anything close to the max. While an extension isn't ruled out, the Rockets reportedly wouldn't panic if Durant entered the season on his current expiring contract. Houston's apprehension is attributed to Durant's age (soon to be 37) and injury history.

This development creates an ironic situation for Minnesota fans. Despite missing out on Durant, one of his preferred destinations (Houston) now might not grant him the full extension he sought. Durant's lack of interest in Minnesota was surprising to some, given the Timberwolves' consecutive conference finals appearances (offering a title chance) and Durant's known friendship with Anthony Edwards.

While Houston also offers Durant a significant opportunity to compete for a championship, their core lacks the same recent playoff experience as Minnesota's. Houston was the No. 2 seed last season and largely retained their talented young core despite acquiring Durant.

These extension reports emerge nearly two months after the trade. Durant's camp likely discussed potential extensions with interested teams beforehand. Possible outcomes include Durant taking a pay cut for an extension before the season starts, or him entering the season on an expiring deal, which carries risk for the player. Ultimately, while Houston provides title contention, it also poses a contract risk if an extension isn't agreed upon, potentially requiring Durant to sacrifice money. This contrasts with the situation he might have had in Minnesota, offering both a title chance and extension security.