Will Giannis Antetokounmpo be traded by the Milwaukee Bucks before the Thursday NBA trade deadline? The main noise surrounding the league will involve the two-time MVP until he is either traded or the deadline passes. Trade chatter will still go on, though, as there’s a good chance that The Greek Freak will instead be dealt in the offseason.
One team heavily involved in the Giannis trade rumors is the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to Jake Fischer’s latest report, the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo thinks about his legacy and what it would mean to bring a title to a franchise like Minnesota that doesn’t have one.
"One source with knowledge of Antetokounmpo's thinking stressed toThe Stein Line: "Giannis wants to win." Yet it has also been stressed to me that Giannis does care, too, about the arc of his professional story. You'll recall my reports from earlier this season that the prospect of helping to end New York's 50-plus-year title drought — at hallowed Madison Square Garden no less — has appealed to Antetokounmpo. Ditto for the concept of joining the championship-starved Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards as the difference-making force that enables the Wolves to finally get over the hump," Fischer wrote.
Giannis cares about his professional story
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks took home a championship in 2021. It was Milwaukee’s first title in 50 years, and Giannis must remember the elation that comes with winning a title for a long-starved fanbase.
The Timberwolves are currently in their 37th season as a franchise. They have yet to reach the NBA finals, never mind win a chip. Minnesota has reached the conference finals each of the last two years, but fell one step short of being one of the final two teams remaining.
Fischer also reports that Antetokounmpo admires Anthony Edwards. The thought of Giannis teaming with Ant-Man would strike fear in opposing coaches throughout the league in trying to figure out how to slow the duo down.
There are certainly risks involved. Antetokounmpo hasn’t been the most durable superstar of late and is currently out with a calf injury. The Timberwolves don’t exactly have a boatload of depth, and that would further be compromised in any deal for Giannis. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle (or Naz Reid) could both be involved in a trade for Antetokounmpo.
February 5 is right around the corner. Will the Timberwolves, or another team, make the seismic deal to acquire one of the best talents the game has ever seen?