Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently out of the lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks with a strained right calf that he suffered on January 23. That same calf was strained in early December, causing the two-time MVP to miss eight consecutive outings. Prior to the two calf strains, Antetokounmpo strained his groin and was out for four straight games in late November.
Compare that to the current frontcourt of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It is extremely rare to see any of Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, or Naz Reid out of the lineup, and that’s been a relief for a Timberwolves team that isn’t exactly the deepest in the league.
With Minnesota rumored to be one of the teams looking to acquire Giannis, making a deal for The Greek Freak wouldn't come without any risk involved.
Wolves frontcourt has remained healthy
The Timberwolves have played 49 contests this season and possess a 30-19 record. Both Randle and Reid have appeared in all 49 games. Gobert has missed just two, and one of those was due to a one-game suspension for accumulating too many flagrant foul points.
It’s not like their ability to remain healthy is just a one-year thing either. In the previous two years, Reid has missed a total of only three games. In his first two seasons with Minnesota, Gobert has averaged almost 73 regular season appearances. It has nearly been a full year since Randle last needed to miss a game on February 28.
Meanwhile, the Greek Freak has missed 18 games (and counting) for Milwaukee this season. Now 31 years old, Giannis has been out of action for at least nine regular season games every year since 2018-19. It was the other calf (the left one) that kept him out for six games last February.
No one should confuse Antetokounmpo as being one of the more injury-prone players in the league. It’s a bit concerning, though, that now in his 13th season, he has had the toughest time this year staying on the court.
Trade would weaken their already shallow depth
Any type of trade for Giannis is going to force the Timberwolves to give up pieces that have played a large role for them this season. This is a team that already has no consistent players off the bench other than Naz Reid, and their depth would become even more shallow if Antetokounmpo needed to miss time.
Just hearing the words Giannis is interested in coming to Minnesota is crazy
— Timberwolves Talk (@LetsTalk_Wolves) January 29, 2026
10 years ago, I would have never believed a player of his caliber would have interest in the Wolves
pic.twitter.com/bPJAEqB3Z7
Now, I’m not saying that the Wolves should say no to a trade for The Greek Freak. This is a franchise that has never reached the NBA finals, never mind being one that has won it all. Giannis would almost certainly raise the team’s ceiling. It has been another incredible season for him, as he is posting averages of 28.0 points (on 64.5% field goal shooting), 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
It’s a risky move to make, though. We have seen calf injuries turn to something much worse on more than one occasion. Will Tim Connelly (or someone else) make a deal for the superstar by the February 5 trade deadline?