The Minnesota Timberwolves need another star to pair with Anthony Edwards and the top choice should be Giannis Antetokounmpo. “The Greek Freak” could be what the Timberwolves need to get past Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and the overall talent of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Minnesota seems hesitant to pull the trigger in order to keep Jaden McDaniels, according to B/R’s Jake Fischer.
Speaking on a live stream on Tuesday, Fischer said he doesn’t think that the Wolves “want to part with McDaniels” and that he "doesn't see Minnesota being a factor in the Giannis sweepstakes."
Minnesota has also dropped hints that McDaniels won’t be traded with president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, foreshadowing an increased role in the offense.
Still, as much as the Wolves want to believe McDaniels is a foundational piece, it may be a haunting decision to pass on the chance to acquire a talent like Antetokounmpo.
McDaniels shouldn’t stand in the way of the Wolves’ pursuit of Giannis
There are other stars that the Timberwolves could pursue this offseason, but it’s hard to think they’d have the same impact as Antetokounmpo. Before he was limited to 36 games this past season, the 31-year-old averaged over 30 points and 10 rebounds in each of the past three seasons and had finished in the top four in MVP voting in seven straight seasons, winning it during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns.
But Antetokounmpo’s game isn’t just about offense. He’s a five-time All-Defensive team selection and was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year during the 2019-20 season. He also averaged 1.2 blocks per game during his 13-year career and could battle in the paint with Wembanyama and the other giants that Minnesota could encounter on its way to a title.
A history of left knee and calf injuries is concerning, but there’s a similar risk with other rumored targets. Kyrie Irving is a big shot maker on the perimeter. But he hasn't played since suffering a torn ACL in early 2025, and 34 in March.
Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson always seem to be battling some ailment, and Ja Morant could be a ticking time bomb that has lost his trademark aggressiveness after years of living at the rim.
Simply put, Antetokounmpo is the player the Wolves should covet if they’re serious about getting a second star. Instead, they seem to covet McDaniels more.
McDaniels is a fan favorite and seems capable of doing more on the offensive end. He averaged career-highs in points (14.8) and assists (2.7) while pulling down 4.2 rebounds and recording 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. His ability on the defensive side of the ball is also a key component, but the Wolves aren’t asking themselves how to maintain their success. They’re asking how to get better.
Antetokounmpo would be an upgrade in all of these areas and giving up McDaniels would be the old adage of giving up something to get something. The high asking price of Milwaukee means the Timberwolves would have to give up other assets and that could be at the cost of the depth around them.
But that’s a problem for Connelly to figure out and it could be easier with a $10.7 million trade exemption at his disposal to build the roster in a separate trade.
There is also a sense of urgency this summer. While Edwards’ future isn’t in question right now, it could follow the path that Antetokounmpo’s career has taken with the Bucks.
It didn’t seem that long ago that Antetokounmpo could be in Milwaukee for the duration of his career, but constant trade rumors and Milwaukee’s inability to build a roster that could claim a second championship have him on the way out.
This is why if the Wolves make a big move, they need to get it right. They still could go ahead and pursue one of their other options, as the bidding war for Antetokounmpo could get out of hand. But if McDaniels is the difference in a deal for Antetokounmpo, he shouldn’t be standing in the way if the Wolves are serious about contending.
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