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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks waits to tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the primary trade suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo. They have already made one trade to try to clear space for him to join the team. Antetokounmpo won’t be moved to a team he won’t consider signing a contract extension with.
Minnesota is fighting multiple other teams for Antetokounmpo before the trade deadline. They, like the Golden State Warriors, would prefer to land Antetokounmpo before the offseason. They believe that adding him to the roster this year could make them a title contender.
As the Timberwolves continue to work towards a potential trade with the Bucks, the price that it will take for Milwaukee to send him to Minnesota has been revealed.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo sits on the floor. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Timberwolves’ Price for Giannis Antetokounmpo is High
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Bucks want Jaden McDaniels and multiple first-round picks from the Wolves. However, Minnesota only has one pick swap in 2028 to offer. They would need to get another team involved in order to pull this off.
Mannix has also reported that multiple other teams have mentioned they will have better offers in the offseason. That is a big reason why the Timberwolves are trying to get a deal done now. They don’t want to be put into a bidding war with other teams once the summer arrives.
The Timberwolves lack the draft assets that the Bucks covet, which is why they are not the favorites to land him. Golden State still has the most first-round picks that they can offer Milwaukee, so they are considered the favorites to trade for him.
It’s going to be tough for Minnesota to bring in another team to get this deal done without giving up key players. This is why there is a sense of urgency for the Timberwolves to get something done soon.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo walks on the court. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Timberwolves Might Not be Able to Land Giannis Antetokounmpo
If that reported price is true, the Timberwolves might not be able to win the sweepstakes for Antetokounmpo. The draft assets that they gave up in the Rudy Gobert trade are now coming back to haunt them in this scenario. Unless they trade someone like Naz Reid or Donte DiVincenzo to another team, they can’t get the draft assets required to get a deal done.
Antetokounmpo is the biggest player on the trade block. As time goes on, the odds of him being moved at the deadline go down. There is a much bigger chance that he gets traded in the offseason when more teams can offer draft capital.
If the Timberwolves do manage to trade for him, they would become one of the favorites to win the NBA title. Antetokounmpo is still injured at the moment, though. He won’t be ready to go until the end of February at the earliest. That’s another matter that is complicating any potential trade.