Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo endured losing, only to eventually lead his team to an NBA championship. Last season, the Bucks finished 32-50 and ranked No. 11 in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo turns 32 in December and has been the subject of trade rumors for over a year.
Any deal would need to make sense for both the player and the Bucks. Two NBA writers discussed an option that could shift the league’s balance of power.
Minnesota Named as Possible Trade Spot for Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo
With the team missing the playoffs and the roster’s talent apparently depleted, Antetokounmpo’s name continues to surface. From Miami to Los Angeles, multiple teams became the subject of speculation. According to Sam Amick and Eric Nehm, the Minnesota Timberwolves could be in the mix.
“The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are also seen by some as an emerging option for the Bucks. While Antetokounmpo is known to prefer a trade involving a team in the Eastern Conference, league sources say the Bucks are interested in what Minnesota has to offer.”
Geographically, Minneapolis isn’t appreciably far from Milwaukee, approximately five hours by car or a short flight. Additionally, losing Antetokounmpo means the Bucks will need to completely reshape the roster and manage their expectations.
In 2021, the franchise defeated the Phoenix Suns to win the NBA title. Since then, Milwaukee has had three first-round playoff series losses and one trip to the conference semifinals. What would the Timberwolves need to offer the Bucks to procure Antetokounmpo?
“If the Timberwolves want to get into the mix, league sources say the Bucks would want a package including Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr., and their two tradable first-round picks (No. 29 in this year’s draft and their 2033 pick).”
In McDaniels, the Bucks would receive an emerging talent (14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists last season). On top of that, the 25-year-old improved his three-point shooting.
Most importantly, McDaniels can guard multiple positions on the court. With his size, he can body shorter players while possessing the foot speed and quickness, along with the requisite strength, to stay with bigger forwards.
Reid, a former Sixth Man of the Year award winner, is a stretch four with enough post nuance and perimeter skill to space the floor.
While he is not as explosive as Antetokounmpo on both sides of the ball, he is a better shooter than the Bucks’ franchise player. Meanwhile, Shannon is a lightly used (three starts in 75 career games) player with just enough upside to serve as a functional rotation piece at shooting guard.
Still, according to the report mentioned above, the T’Wolves do not want to part with McDaniels due to his defensive prowess, making him a valuable two-way player.
“Yet considering McDaniels’ immense value alongside (Anthony) Edwards as an elite perimeter defender, as well as his impressive postseason performance, team sources say Minnesota has indicated that McDaniels is off limits.”
With teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, along with the Denver Nuggets lurking, Minnesota may feel like they need to pair Edwards with another star, possibly Antetokounmpo.
On the other hand, if the Bucks part ways with arguably one of the best players in team history, they may want their trade partner to overpay. Will Minnesota be willing to pay the price?
