Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Wolves?

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Per Jon K:

How real is the Timberwolves’ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo? What I’m hearing​


Pairing Antetokounmpo with four-time All-Star Anthony Edwards in the Western Conference is a tantalizing prospect, though it remains to be seen just how close the Bucks are to actually trading the face of their franchise.

Before the aggregators get too excited, this is not unique to Minnesota. Every team in the league has been salivating at the thought of Antetokounmpo, widely considered one of the three or four best players in the league, becoming available. Every team has explored their options and tried to see if there is a deal that makes sense for them.

But the Timberwolves are one of four teams The Athletic has reported as frontrunners for Antetokounmpo as the Thursday trade deadline approaches, for a few reasons.

• Antetokounmpo would likely only leave Milwaukee to go to a team that has a chance at winning the championship. The Timberwolves have been to the Western Conference finals in each of the last two seasons.

• Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has been one of the most aggressive front-office leaders in the league since he came to Minnesota. He has swung blockbuster trades for Rudy Gobert in 2022 and the combination of Julius Randle plus Donte DiVincenzo in 2024. Connelly made another crucial in-season trade to get Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 2023. He actively pursued a trade for Kevin Durant at the deadline last season. Making a big swing for Antetokounmpo falls in line with that ethos.

• Antetokounmpo is known to have an affinity for Edwards’ game. It is safe to say that the respect is mutual.

Conversations with front-office members across the league reveal a healthy skepticism that the Bucks actually want to trade Antetokounmpo before the deadline. This very well could be an effort to understand the market for him, then use it as a foundation for more talks this summer leading into the draft. But the Wolves are treating these talks as if there is an opportunity to get him right now.

A deal of this magnitude has a lot of factors involved.

The Jaden McDaniels factor​

This will hurt … for the Timberwolves and their fans. The biggest reason the Wolves can say that they have even a small chance at acquiring a legend like Antetokounmpo is because, as Edwards likes to say, “We got Jaden McDaniels.”

ESPN reported Monday that the Bucks are looking for draft picks and/or a blue-chip young player. McDaniels certainly qualifies. He’s a 25-year-old who is under team control for three more seasons after this one at a reasonable $85 million total. He has made a significant leap in his sixth season in the league, becoming much more than the 3-and-D wing he was forecast to be out of college.

McDaniels is averaging a career-high 14.4 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent from 3. He has also improved as a shot creator, showing the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket, where he elevates his 6-foot-10 frame to shoot over almost anyone who tries to defend him. He has done all this while maintaining his reputation as one of the league’s most versatile perimeter defenders.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has spoken often this season about needing to get McDaniels even more shots. That has not been easy on a team with Edwards and Randle as the top two options. But it is easy to envision McDaniels’ scoring increasing significantly if he were to be a No. 1 or No. 2 option on another team.

If the Bucks decide they most value a single young piece to start building around in any Antetokounmpo deal, McDaniels may be their best option. It’s hard to see how names like Miami’s Tyler Herro or Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga, who could highlight packages from other teams, measure up to McDaniels. Even if the New York Knicks were to put Karl-Anthony Towns in a potential trade, McDaniels may still have the edge because his age and contract status makes him the kind of player who could be in Milwaukee for years to come.

It would be hard to see McDaniels leave Minnesota. He is one of the best player-development stories in franchise history, one of the most diligent workers on the team and an immensely popular player with the fan base. The Wolves just gave out McDaniels hats at a game last week. His teammates and coaches love him as well.

www.nytimes.com

How real is the Timberwolves’ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo? What I’m hearing

The Timberwolves' place in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes is very real. So are the risks.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

Howl Wolves!!
 





Something else is happening and Charnia indicated it's with MIL so there is that.

By trading Conley, we get out of the first Apron which now allows us to consolidate salaries AND take back more salary than we're sending out.

With MEM going full tank mode by trading JJJ to UTA, I sure hope this isn't a precursor to trading for Morant.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Something else is happening and Charnia indicated it's with MIL so there is that.

By trading Conley, we get out of the first Apron which now allows us to consolidate salaries AND take back more salary than we're sending out.

With MEM going full tank mode by trading JJJ to UTA, I sure hope this isn't a precursor to trading for Morant.
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Or Harden, who is also now supposed to be moving.
 












Slim Tubby said:
No. Kyle Anderson was just traded to CHI and he's rumored to be a Wolves target if he's bought out by the Bulls. Personally, I have no interest in that reunion.
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I disagree. Maybe not Kyle Anderson specifically, but they desperately need a veteran leader on the bench since Finch can't or won't hold anyone accountable.
 


Breakin' The Plane said:
I disagree. Maybe not Kyle Anderson specifically, but they desperately need a veteran leader on the bench since Finch can't or won't hold anyone accountable.
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I completely agree that we need veteran help for the bench...just not Kyle Anderson. I'm holding out hope that an actual productive guy like Portis or Bey can be added via trade for something centered around Dilly or TSJ.
 

Slim Tubby said:
You beat me to it. 🙂

The heavily rumored deal is Harden to CLE for Garland.
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I think if the Wolves get involved, it would be as a third team.

Harden to Cleveland
Randle, Dilly + Shannon to LAC
Garland to MN

Harden just doesn't make sense here (maybe I'm just hoping that's true).
 

Slim Tubby said:
I completely agree that we need veteran help for the bench...just not Kyle Anderson. I'm holding out hope that an actual productive guy like Portis or Bey can be added via trade for something centered around Dilly or TSJ.
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I don't think we are going to add expensive bench players like Portis or Bey.
 

@WindhorstESPN says the Timberwolves could have gotten Coby White in this deal if they wanted too. Says they are trying to get Giannis.

Via: ESPN NBA Today
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
I don't think we are going to add expensive bench players like Portis or Bey.
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Agreed...highly unlikely now without Conley's salary to pair up with one of our younger guys. Bey only makes $6M/year and trading Dilly straight up works, but they already have a young PG in Fears.
 



jamiche said:
Giannis is old, expensive and half broken down. Plus he comes with his value less bro. Obviously, they aren't giving up Ant. I really hope they also don't give up Jaden or Berenger.
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Jaden’s vastly overrated.
Slim Tubby said:
If it's Giannis, I can't see how he's not included in a deal. Some rumblings that Randle & Dilly for Harden out there, too.
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i read Cleveland was looking hard at Harden for Garland
 


I am going to say that the wolves get Giannis and keep Jaden.
 



kg21 said:
And this buildup is when nothing will happen.
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Quite possible. The Conley trade getting us under the First Apron gives the Wolves a lot more flexibility to make other moves in the offseason if this all proves to be fruitless. It also saved Wolves ownership close to $20M in luxury taxes this season.
 


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