NBA Insider Names Wolves Among Teams with Interest in Mega-Superstar

Anthony Edwards, Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks at Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Recently, the MN Timberwolves have shown interest in multiple point guards, including Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant. Over the offseason, they thought they were nearing a deal to land Kevin Durant, until Connelly found out KD wasn’t interested in playing here.

Then this week, it seemed like the Wolves were on the verge of trading for Chicago Bulls guard, Coby White… until one local insider at The Athletic loudly slammed the door on those reports too.

Minnesota Timberwolves interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo

But as I mentioned in that article, failing won’t stop Tim Connelly from trying again, and again, and again, and again, and again [repeat], until he finds a blockbuster trade that clicks. And while most of the rumors surround the Timberwolves lately have featured ball-handling guards, this latest one shifts focus to a ball handling center.

According to Chris B. Haynes (NBA on Prime), Minnesota is one of a handful of teams showing interest in Milwaukee Bucks 9x All-Star, 2x MVP and 2021 NBA champion, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Of the five teams Haynes lists, the Wolves come last… as if he almost forgot to mention them.

“I think the Knicks have strong interest in Giannis. The Miami Heat have interest in Giannis. The Golden State Warriors have had interest in Giannis for a long time, the San Antonio Spurs. Uh, the list goes on and on, the Minnesota Timberwolves…”

Chris B. Haynes – NBA on Prime

There has been some light speculation, connecting Antetokounmpo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the past year, but this is really the first time we’ve seen them connected to him, in a National TV spotlight, like during tonight’s NBA Cup broadcast on Prime Video.

In 17 games this season, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 points per game, which is actually a down season by his standards. Each of the past three years, Giannis has averaged 30 or more points. He’s averaged at least 11 rebounds every season since 2018-19.

Don’t hold your breath yet, Wolves fans…

While it’s worth noticing the Timberwolves’ inclusion in Haynes’ report, I wouldn’t hold my breath until Giannis Antetokounmpo lands in Minnesota. As of now, this still doesn’t feel like the blockbuster move Tim Connelly has been hunting for.

Right after he mentions the Wolves’ interest in Milwaukee’s 2020-21 NBA Finals MVP, Haynes goes on to say that — while winning another championship is Antetokounmpo’s “main priority” — the 31-year-old 7-footer is also in search of more sun and a big market setting.

Just in case you weren’t aware, he will find neither of those things in Minneapolis… at least not during the winter.

“For Giannis, wherever he lands, I think preferably he’d like to have some sun. He would like to be probably in a big market. Outside of that, he just wants to be on a team where he can contend for a championship. He has been very adamant about that being a main priority.”

Chris B. Haynes – NBA on Prime

The Minnesota Timberwolves are off on Saturday night, after claiming a late 127-120 victory out West against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. Of note, the Wolves did it without Anthony Edwards on the floor, after he was ruled out before the game with a nagging foot injury.

In the win, Julius Randle stepped up — as he always does when Ant can’t go — contributing 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists to the Wolves’ cause. Donte DiVincenzo (21 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST) and Rudy Gobert (24 PTS, 14 REB) did their fair share too.

Related: Anthony Edwards EXTREMELY Confident He’ll Carry Timberwolves

While it was nice for Minnesota to show some moxie, without their superstar available, let’s make something very clear. This organization is NOT looking to subtract star players. Quite the contrary, actually. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly is on the search for more star power.

And who knows, weirder things have happened. Without a doubt, if winning more championships is Antetokounmpo’s No. 1 priority, I’m not sure he can find a better partner in crime to do it with than Anthony Edwards.

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