There are few singular talents greater than Giannis Antetokounmpo. It wasn’t that long ago that you could replace the word few with no in the previous sentence.
Now 31 years old and 13 seasons deep into his NBA career, Giannis is expected by many to be dealt in the offseason. Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam has stated that he would like the future of The Greek Freak to be figured out before the 2026 NBA Draft.
It’s no secret that the Minnesota Timberwolves were looking to acquire the services of the two-time MVP at this year’s trade deadline. They are set to be involved in Giannis trade rumors once again. As with most trades, there is a risk vs. reward factor, but a trade for Antetokounmpo really seems to bring that into focus.
Giannis trade would hurt the team’s overall depthÂ
It was yet another season in 2025-26 where Giannis put up stellar numbers. He averaged 27.6 points (on 62.4% shooting), 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 28.9 minutes. The field goal percentage is a career-best mark, and he nearly averaged double-digit free-throw attempts for the fifth-straight year.
The problem comes in the game column. Antetokounmpo missed more games (46) than he appeared in (36). It’s a large reason why the Bucks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.Â
Both calf and knee issues forced the superstar off the court this season. Antetokounmpo has dealt with a multitude of lower-body injuries over the last few seasons. Giannis missed two games in Milwaukee’s 2023 five-game series loss in the opening round to the Miami Heat and missed the entire first round series loss in 2024 to the Indiana Pacers.
The Timberwolves don’t exactly have a lot of draft picks to give up. Useful players such as Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and/or Rudy Gobert would need to be included. Already without Donte DiVincenzo for maybe all of next season, a Giannis trade would further compromise their depth, particularly in games Antetokounmpo inevitably misses.
I still get why Minnesota is interested, though. Tim Connelly is not afraid to swing for the fences, and the team is desperate to take that next step in reaching their first-ever NBA Finals. If everything were to break right with Giannis on the team, and he were to stay relatively healthy, particularly in the playoffs, their ceiling probably is higher.
Personally, I think it will be rather difficult for the Timberwolves to present the best trade offer to the Bucks, and even if they do, gutting their depth could backfire. It will still be a large talking point in the Wolves’ offseason until Antetokounmpo is traded or taken off the market.
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