The Minnesota Timberwolves cleared roster and salary space on Tuesday when they traded away Mike Conley for, well, nothing.
It's a sign that they believe that Giannis Antetokounmpo has a legitimate chance of joining the Wolves in a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks before the NBA's trade deadline on Thursday.
The latest news on that front is quite encouraging, too.
Sports Illustrated's national NBA writer Chris Mannix wrote this in a new article on Wednesday:
"As the hours tick toward the NBA trade deadline, Minnesota’s aggressive pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo has drawn attention. The Timberwolves are on Antetokounmpo’s so-called list, sources tell Sports Illustrated, with the Wolves operating under the belief that Antetokounmpo would not only welcome a deal to Minnesota—where he would be paired with 24-year-old Anthony Edwards—but be ready to sign a long-term extension."
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A long-term pairing of Antetokounmpo and Edwards would be one of the scariest duos in the NBA for years to come.
Minnesota has made deep runs in the playoffs in recent years as Edwards has hit his stride, but they haven't yet reached the NBA Finals.
Antetokounmpo has experience with championships. In the 2021 Finals with the Bucks, he played a superhero-level series that culminated with Giannis scoring 50 points in the closeout game to deliver Milwaukee its first championship in 50 years.
The Greek Freak is sought after by a lot of teams, including some who hope he won't be traded until the summer when they'll have more draft pick assets to trade.
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That potential timeline complication could make getting a deal done now even more important for the Timberwolves, who have a bit less legitimate competition right now to land Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks likely also want to do right by Giannis while ensuring they get a good package in return. Minnesota could deliver on both fronts if Antetokounmpo does indeed enjoy the idea of teaming up with Edwards.
There could still be a few more twists and turns in this rumor mill, but Minnesota is making a strong push to land another superstar.
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