Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on January 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant was just minding his business Thursday night when he came across a social media post from “SiriusXM NBA Radio” host Justin Termine, who addressed chatter that Giannis Antetokounmpo would love to link up with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“If Giannis is willing to go to a small cold market like Minnesota, then credit to him for going anywhere it takes to win,” Termine wrote on X, reacting to a clip of ESPN’s Brian Windhorst naming the Timberwolves a realistic suitor for a Giannis trade.
“The Timberwolves wanted Durant in the offseason, yet he reportedly wanted to go to Houston or Miami and not Minnesota,” added Termine.
Durant clearly didn’t appreciate being dragged into the Giannis trade rumor mill.
“What do I have to do with this???” asked the future Hall of Famer.
ESPN reported last July that Durant blocked a trade to the Timberwolves, as he had the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat on his preferred trade list. Durant has never spoken candidly about why he wasn’t keen on playing in Minnesota.
Giannis Trade to Timberwolves?
Unlike Durant, Antetokounmpo reportedly has a genuine interest in a move to the Twin Cities, per insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
“League sources say that the prospect of teaming up with Anthony Edwards holds strong appeal for Antetokounmpo, which led to some notable backchannel discussions in recent months that lend true legitimacy to Minnesota’s status as a potential landing spot despite the undeniable obstacles that the Timberwolves would face.”
The Timberwolves have limited draft assets and may not have the “blue-chip young piece” that the Milwaukee Bucks reportedly covet in a Giannis trade. ESPN’s Bobby Marks has placed them in Tier 7 among teams that can offer the most for the two-time MVP, mostly due to their lack of draft capital.
Potential Giannis Trade Package
Some insiders believe Antetokounmpo, who has the option to become a free agent in 2027, holds the leverage and could dictate where he lands. As such, a Giannis trade to Minnesota isn’t far-fetched if a third team can be roped in to acquire draft capital. The Athletic’s Eric Nehm outlined what a potential Timberwolves trade package could look like, with the Portland Trail Blazers facilitating the blockbuster move.
Bucks would receive:Julius Randle andNaz Reid;Portland’s 2030 first-round pick; rights to 2028 and 2032 first-round pick swaps with Minnesota; regain control of their own 2029 and 2030 first-round picks
Timberwolves would receive: Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers would receive:Jaden McDaniels andMike Conley
“The Timberwolvesdo not have any first-round picks they can trade, but they can give the Bucks the right to swap picks with them in 2028 and 2032,”wrote Nehm.“Those swapsdon’t have much value, but they are still something the Bucks can take to make the package stronger.”
The Warriors are now viewed as the favorites to pull off a Giannis trade if the Bucks move their longtime franchise star by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. However, that could change drastically if a trade is delayed until the offseason.