Unsurprisingly, yet also still surprisingly, the Minnesota Timberwolves emerged as a threat for Giannis Antetokounmpo before the deadline. Milwaukee kept its superstar, temporarily quieting the speculation, but with the end of the season around the corner, it's picking back up.
As Zach Lowe said on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the Timberwolves' aggressiveness in trying to put themselves in the position to get Antetokounmpo in February didn't go unnoticed.
"They were trying to line up all the deals they would have to make to get the picks that the Bucks would want. That was interesting to me. Notable, considering that we don't know what to make of the Wolves right now."
That last sentence is especially true: Minnesota lost to Portland on Friday night but bounced back from a 15-point deficit on Sunday in Boston for a needed 102-92 win. They sit in the No. 6 spot in the West, but are 2.5 games back from the No. 3 Lakers.
Giannis trade could be back on the table for Timberwolves
You don't know which team you'll get on any given night, but if they continue to play physical and with effort on the defensive end (a revolutionary thought), perhaps a third straight trip to the conference finals will be in the cards. If they flame out before then, though, it could put more pressure on the front office to make a drastic change like trading for Giannis.
Tim Connelly is known for his aggressiveness in making trades, so even if Minnesota came up short in the WCF again, he would probably still push for an Antetokounmpo deal. When that kind of player is on the table, you have to think long and hard about going all-in. The only way it feels like Connelly wouldn't is if the Timberwolves make a championship run.
Minnesota may not have the ideal package for Antetokounmpo, but it does have Anthony Edwards. Not in the sense that the Timberwolves would ever trade him to the Bucks, but Giannis reportedly wants to have a young co-star.
As Brian Windhorst said before the deadline, the Timberwolves weren't just interested in Antetokounmpo, but he was reportedly interested in them, too. You'd assume that stance hasn't changed (on either side).
It's still too early to dive headfirst into Antetokounmpo trade watch, not with Minnesota fighting for seeding and trying to get it together before the real games begin. The thought will continue to linger in fans' minds and creep to the forefront if the Timberwolves don't build on what they've done over the past couple of seasons.
With Connelly at the helm, you can never fully rule out Minnesota in this kind of situation.