Somewhat surprisingly, the Minnesota Timberwolves have found themselves in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo. It wasn't a shock when Shams Charania broke the news that Giannis is open to a new home and the Bucks are listening to aggressive offers. However, it was a shock when the NBA's top news breaker mentioned the Wolves as a serious suitor. Jake Fischer confirmed the Wolves' interest in Giannis while also noting that Antetokounmpo's fondness for Anthony Edwards makes him open to a Wolves trade.
With that being said, the Wolves' path to landing Giannis has clear hurdles. Most notably, outside of a 2028 first-round pick swap, the Wolves don't have any tradable first-round picks. The Bucks' asking price involves a "blue-chip young talent" and/or a boatload of draft picks. That's not a demand the Wolves can meet.
Plus, the Wolves are just below the second tax apron, which further complicates the possibility of a trade.
Now, if the Wolves get a third team involved (most specifically the Portland Trail Blazers, who own much of the Bucks' future picks), a trade might be possible. Orchestrating such a three-team trade, though, is easier said than done. At the end of the day, the Wolves' lack of draft capital might cost them a chance to land Giannis.
It would take a miracle for the Wolves to trade for Giannis
Again, I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility of the Wolves trading for Giannis -- it's certainly worth noting that top insiders have linked the Wolves to him. Regardless, their path to trading for Giannis is more difficult than the majority of suitors on the market.
With the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors having a slew of future draft assets and even some intriguing young talent, especially in the case of Miami, those teams have a clearer path to making a move. Even dark horse teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Atlanta Hawks have a smoother runway to pulling off a blockbuster trade.
Now, if this saga stretches into the offseason, I would consider the Wolves a more realistic landing spot as they would gain access to two extra first-round picks. Regardless, if a move happens at or before the trade deadline, the Wolves' chances of landing Giannis are slim. It's not totally impossible, but it will be clearly challenging for the Wolves to make a trade for Giannis.
Undoubtedly, the opportunity to add another top-five player next to Edwards is something the Wolves have to pursue, and Tim Connelly has pulled off shocking moves before. Nevertheless, trading for Giannis would be Connelly's greatest magic trick yet, and it's something Wolves fans shouldn't count on.