Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks at Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Going back to the offseason, Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has been combing the trade market for an addition to the lineup that can put the Wolves over the top.
Most of their reported targets have been high-end point guards. But for months… Connelly has come up empty-handed, handcuffed by the financial and roster restrictions that come with avoiding the second apron of the luxury tax for the second-straight season.
But could there be a different BLOCKBUSTER option lurking out there for Tim Connelly and his front office? Giannis Antetokounmpo (may) hope so.
Desperate Giannis Antetokounmpo pondering a splash agency change?
Longtime NBA insider and basketball author Henry Abbott (TrueHoop) has been closely following the Giannis situation in Milwaukee. On Tuesday, he set the league on fire with a new report via his TrueHoop substack.
According to some of Abbott’s sources, Antetokounmpo is growing so frustrated with his inability to force a trade out of the Bucks organization that the uber-loyal 31-year-old superstar is thinking seriously about changing his player representation before the NBA trade deadline.
Last week, someone very well placed in the business told me something alarming about Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis is generally seen as a good guy, a thoughtful guy, one of the truly nice and kind people in the NBA sphere. He has had one team and one agent since he was drafted as a teenager in 2013.
So it was alarming to hear a story of real drama, that Giannis was close to firing his longtime agent Alex Saratsis over his failure to get Giannis traded from the Bucks.
Henry Abbott – TrueHoop.com
His new agent target, according to Abbott: The all-powerful Rich Paul (CEO of Klutch Sports), who has apparently been selling Giannis’ brother Thaneus on his ability to get a deal done, should the superstar Antetokounmpo hire him.
But that is only the backdrop to introduce the rumor Minnesota Timberwolves fans clicked into this article for. Late last night, Abbott followed-up on his Giannis reporting in a video interview with the New York Post.
Giannis targeting the Minnesota Timberwolves… maybe?
During his sit-down, Abbott told Dexter Henry (NY Post) that one of his trustworthy sources revealed to him a three-team list of preferred trade destinations.
On Giannis’ reported trade list are the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA insider admitted, however, that another source disputes the trade list… but would not give preferred trade destinations of his own.
Giannis (may or may not) have the Timberwolves on his shortlist of preferred trade destinations, depending on which @TrueHoop source you believe…
"One person told me that Giannis preferred list is three teams — the Heat, the Wolves, and the Knicks. Now, another person told me… pic.twitter.com/nnvSZ1TYhN
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 28, 2026
“One thing I didn’t include in the report [at TrueHoops.com], that I think I’m comfortable saying, is that one person told me that Giannis’ preferred list is three teams — the Heat, the Wolves, and the Knicks.
Now, another person told me that is not his list, but would not tell me what his list is. So, take it all with a grain of salt.”
Henry Abbott speaking with New York Post Sports
We’ve known for a long time that Tim Connelly would prefer to add a high-end point guard to the Minnesota Timberwolves rotation. However, former NBA GM turned ESPN salary cap guru Bobby Marks says the Wolves can’t afford that, given the luxury tax restrictions mentioned earlier in this article.
He and local insider Jon Krawczynski believe the MN Timberwolves are more likely to find the bench scoring threat they desperately need to take pressure off Naz Reid and their second unit.
Can the MN Timberwolves actually land Giannis Antetokounmpo?
But… should Rich Paul successfully insert himself into the Giannis negotiations — and the Wolves are on his list of trade destinations — suddenly, anything seems possible. Whether he hires a new agent or not, Shams (ESPN) made it clear just moments ago that Antetokounmpo is done in Milwaukee.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OejatbQjDy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2026
A trade to Minnesota would be anything but easy. In his interview with the NY Post, Abbot went on to talk about how difficult it will be for the Bucks to make a deal happen with the Knicks, given their own luxury tax limitations and lack of picks/young assets.
And that’s not even the biggest obstruction complicating an Antetokounmpo trade happening before the deadline. He’s been dealing with a right calf strain for the better part of a year now. And after he tried to return recently, and hurt it again, Giannis is expected out 4-6 weeks.
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Let’s be real, you can never rule the newly extended Tim Connelly out. There would be a lot of shock and awe if Giannis lands in the Twin Cities, but very little of that would be aimed at the Wolves PoHO, who’s become known for making deals when nobody thinks they are possible.
And with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez now steering the ship behind him, who knows what the Minnesota Timberwolves might be willing to cook up between now and February 5.
God knows the new owners would love nothing more than to make the biggest splash of the NBA trade deadline, the same year they took control of the organization.
Mentioned in this article: Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Trade Deadline NBA Trade Rumors More About: Minnesota Timberwolves
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