Since the Minnesota Timberwolves' season ended, everyone expected that they would pursue a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Sure, they don't have much draft capital or high-end trade candidates, but that didn't stop them at the deadline, and Tim Connelly has long had an appetite for big moves.Â
However, during a recent live stream with Bleacher Report, Jake Fischer poured cold water on this possibility.Â
"Minnesota, I don't really see them being a factor in the Giannis sweepstakes right now either," Fischer said.Â
Fischer later noted that the Wolves don't want to trade Jaden McDaniels, which indicates that their loyalty to McDaniels is the primary reason for them no longer factoring into the Giannis sweepstakes.Â
The Wolves being out of the Giannis sweepstakes is a controversial decision
To some Wolves fans, not pursuing a top-five level player alongside Anthony Edwards is seen as a disappointment. This is especially the case since Giannis is better equipped than just about anybody to guard Victor Wembanyama.
Conversely, other fans would argue that the risk of gutting their depth, already limited draft capital, and core players, including, within all likelihood, parting ways with McDaniels, would be too steep a price for a talented yet injury-prone star.Â
To me, not gutting your core for Giannis is the right move.Â
Yes, the idea of an Ant-Giannis duo is tantalizing, but in the modern NBA, depth is vital. And by trading for another massive salary, the Wolves would be forced to gut their depth. I also really value McDaniels' two-way impact and think he has another level to reach, so it's understandable to me why the Wolves aren't willing to trade him for Giannis.Â
The bigger picture, though, is that Giannis is 31 and has a lengthy injury history. Notably, he played just 36 games this year and has been injured in two of his last three playoff appearances. When a player has that much injury risk, trading a haul for him is unwise.
Overall, I'm in the camp that finding Edwards a more affordable co-star and upgrading your depth would be a better option.Â
It's hard not to explore the idea of pairing Ant with Giannis, though, and of course, I can understand why some fans would be disappointed with this update. Â
Regardless of your stance, this update undoubtedly changes the trajectory of Minnesota's offseason. Even if the Wolves are out of Giannis, that doesn't mean they are out on chasing a star.Â
As noted earlier, Connelly is as aggressive as it gets, and the Wolves will likely try to make a big move to better support Edwards. Targeting a point guard makes a lot of sense, especially given that Ant was overtaxed as a creator and ball handler all season long.Â
Whether it's Kyrie Irving or someone else, it's still feasible that the Wolves trade for a star despite them seemingly being out of the running for Giannis.
Ultimately, while some fans might be disappointed by Fischer's update, not pursuing Giannis could end up benefiting the Wolves.
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