Tim Connelly, Minnesota Timberwolves
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If you felt underwhelmed by the Minnesota Timberwolves offseason moves, that would be incredibly justified. After coming up short in consecutive Western Conference Finals trips, president Tim Connelly largely decided to run it back.
Last season there was a big trade in the form of Karl-Anthony Towns heading to New York. This offseason no such thing occurred. Naz Reid and Julius Randle both got paid, but no new point guard came in, and plenty of the faces remain the same.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
That doesn’t mean that Connelly has to be done altering his roster, and that could conceivably take place yet before the October 22 regular season opener in Portland.
Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo a fit for the Timberwolves
The Milwaukee Bucks have seen star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo waffle on his commitment to the organization long term. For now, they’d like to win with him, but he could be intrigued by finding greener pastures elsewhere. Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan thinks the Minnesota Timberwolves should take a swing.
Giannis has another guaranteed year on his contract after this season, so he can control where he goes for now. The Bucks might also want to do right by him because of what he has done for the franchise, and as a signal to free agents that they are a humane organization.
But if Giannis wanted to play for the Wolves, and Connelly wanted Giannis to play for the Wolves, then there would at least be the chance of a deal being concocted, and why a two- or three- or four-team deal could happen at any time in the next calendar year.
What kind of package would be required to bring Giannis to Minnesota? If the Bucks were trying to win immediately, they would want two starters, a key bench player and some young, athletic talent. What if Connelly offered Randle, DiVincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham? That would leave the Wolves with a starting five of Mike Conley, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Giannis and Gobert.
Two exceptional scorers (Edwards and Giannis), two exceptional defenders (McDaniels and Gobert) and two exceptional rebounders (Gobert and Giannis), led by a veteran point guard. The Wolves would still have Naz Reid, Jaylen Clark, Bones Hyland and Joan Beringer coming off the bench. They would be trading depth for star power, and Edwards and Giannis would have to carry the load.
Bet against it but don’t rule it out completely, because Connelly hasn’t made a big trade in a whole year, and he’s got to be as itchy as an online shopper on Black Friday.
Jim Souhan – Star Tribune
Bet against it but don’t rule it out is the key focal point here. As Souhan notes, a trade of Giannis to another midwest team seems unlikely. The Bucks also have Giannis’ brother, Thanasis, on their roster. They have clearly done what they believe is necessary to keep him happy.
Trading Randle as the focal point of a package just months after signing him to a long-term extension would be ruthless as well. That doesn’t mean Connelly will rule it out, but those sorts of actions have ripple effects in future negotiations.
At the end of the day, it’s certainly worth a call if Connelly believes that Giannis alone takes the Minnesota Timberwolves to new heights. The nine-time All-Star and two-time MVP averaged 30.4 points per game while shooting 60.1% from the field last season. He finished third in MVP voting, and at 30 years old, clearly still has it.
It might, and probably won’t be, Giannis that dons a Timberwolves uniform this season. If Connelly wants to see his team win the whole thing, someone else probably should be coming.
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