Local Columnist Floats Massive MN Timberwolves Trade

It went against his reputation (and likely his internal instincts), but after coming up short in consecutive Western Conference Finals trips, Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly was somewhat forced into running things back in 2025-2026, especially after Kevin Durant gave him the cold shoulder.

That’s what happens when you already have a top five — of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid — that is set to make a combined $157.5 million, already more than the projected $154.6 million 2025-26 NBA salary cap — and a team just $3.6 million short of being a multi-year 2nd apron team.

But when your head decision-maker is Tim Connelly, you never know for sure how content he really feels, especially when a unique opportunity to gain talent presents itself.

MN Timberwolves running it back… for now

Last fall, for example, he traded Karl-Anthony Towns right before the team was about to convene for training camp. Before that, he swung the league-shocking Rudy Gobert deal. This offseason, no blockbusters occurred. In fact, the Wolves lost talent, when Nickeil Alexander-Walker walked in free agency.

Instead, the biggest moves made last offseason were contract extensions for Naz Reid and Julius Randle. Outside of that, and the addition of Joan Beringer in the draft, there are a lot of familiar faces on Minnesota’s 2025-26 roster.

In recent years, the Milwaukee Bucks have seen their superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo waffle on his commitment to the organization, long term. And at this point, it feels like just a matter of time before the 2x MVP and 2021 Finals Champion is traded out of the cheese state.

And when it does eventually happen, the Star Tribune’s Jim Souhan expects the Minnesota Timberwolves to take their swing. Whether they actually win the Giannis lottery is another question, because they don’t have much for draft capital at their disposal.

The Timberwolves trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo is hard to imagine.

That’s how you know there’s a chance.

Because there is a superstar on the trade block, and the Wolves’ basketball boss is Tim Connelly, and you know he is beautiful-minding possible deals that could bring Giannis to Minnesota.

Jim Souhan – Star Tribune

Could Tim Connelly be planning a Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster?

As previously mentioned, you can never say “never” with Connelly around. Even now, with just a week left until the regular season opener in Portland on October 22, we have to stay on our toes, especially when there is a huge fish unhappily swimming around his current tank, searching for an escape.

And I agree with the longtime local columnist. If there is superstar talent to be had, Tim Connelly is gonna make his bid. Plus, as Souhan points out, if winning and staying in the midwest are two of Antetokounmpo’s top priorities… it’s always possible he urges a trade specifically to the Wolves.

There is one remotely possible scenario:

Giannis has another guaranteed year on his contract after this season, so he can control where he goes for now. The Bucks might also want to do right by him because of what he has done for the franchise, and as a signal to free agents that they are a humane organization.

But if Giannis wanted to play for the Wolves, and Connelly wanted Giannis to play for the Wolves, then there would at least be the chance of a deal being concocted, and why a two- or three- or four-team deal could happen at any time in the next calendar year.

Milwaukee has done what it believes is necessary to keep their superstar happy. They’ve even kept his brother Thanasis on their roster, who probably isn’t NBA material. But lately, they haven’t been winning to the degree he would like.

What would it cost MN Timberwolves to get a Giannis deal done?

And at the end of the day, it’s certainly worth a call if Connelly believes that Giannis alone takes the Minnesota Timberwolves to new heights. The nine-time All-Star and two-time MVP is just 30 years old. Last season, he averaged 30.4 points per game while shooting 60.1% from the field last season, finishing third in MVP voting.

Trading Randle would be the focal point of any package, just months after signing him to a long-term extension, but it would take a lot more than that. Nonetheless, if the Wolves could lure Giannis in for the types of packages Souhan is floating, then making a deal would be a no-brainer.

What kind of package would be required to bring Giannis to Minnesota? If the Bucks were trying to win immediately, they would want two starters, a key bench player and some young, athletic talent.

What if Connelly offered Randle, DiVincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham? That would leave the Wolves with a starting five of Mike Conley, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Giannis and Gobert.

The Wolves would still have Naz Reid, Jaylen Clark, Bones Hyland and Joan Beringer coming off the bench. They would be trading depth for star power, and Edwards and Giannis would have to carry the load.

Bet against it but don’t rule it out completely, because Connelly hasn’t made a big trade in a whole year, and he’s got to be as itchy as an online shopper on Black Friday.

Jim Souhan – Star Tribune