Jaden McDaniels, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Timberwolves
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Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves fall to the floor in the fourth quarter at Target Center.
As the NBA trade deadline barrels toward Thursday, the Minnesota Timberwolves received a timely boost in their all-in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo when a key rival shifted course.
Heat’s Move Helps Timberwolves’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Push
The Miami Heat have pivoted away from Antetokounmpo and toward a buy-low trade for Ja Morant, thinning the field of serious Giannis suitors in the final hours before the deadline.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Miami is no longer positioned at the forefront of Giannis trade talks and has redirected its focus to Morant.
“The Heat, who league sources indicate are no longer at the forefront of Giannis trade talks before Thursday’s deadline, are attempting to trade for Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, sources told @ClutchPoints. There is a belief the Heat can pull off a Trae Young-like deal for Morant,” Siegel reported on X on Wednesday.
The shift removes one of Minnesota’s most credible competitors and leaves the Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as the most aggressive teams pressing the Milwaukee Bucks as the clock winds down.
Ja Morant Available, Reshapes Market
Miami’s pivot was fueled by a sweeping reset in Memphis. The Memphis Grizzlies recently sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz for three first-round picks, following last summer’s trade of Desmond Bane.
Those deals netted Memphis seven first-round selections while clearing roughly $300 million in long-term salary commitments, dramatically altering how the franchise views Morant’s contract and trade value. With Miami now absorbed in Morant talks, the Giannis market has tightened — even as the stakes rise for Minnesota.
Timberwolves Stay Locked In on Giannis Antetokounmpo
While the Heat’s pivot improves Minnesota’s odds, league insiders stress that the Timberwolves still face a steep climb.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Tuesday that Minnesota’s front office has remained singularly focused on Antetokounmpo, resisting the temptation to pivot to other stars as the market shifted.
“The Timberwolves … remained fully focused Tuesday on trying to construct a workable deal for Antetokounmpo,” Stein wrote.
That commitment has come with real consequences.
Timberwolves Make Randle, Gobert, McDaniels, DiVincenzo Available
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Timberwolves
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks defends against Julius Randle of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to Stein, Minnesota has placed multiple core players on the table — including Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert — in an effort to meet Milwaukee’s asking price.
The willingness to disrupt the core underscores how aggressively Minnesota is pushing to pair Antetokounmpo with Anthony Edwards, who remains the lone untouchable in talks.
Mike Conley Trade Unlocks Salary Cap Flexibility
Minnesota’s pursuit accelerated earlier this week with a move designed less for talent than for flexibility.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Timberwolves traded Mike Conley Jr. in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, shedding salary and dropping below the first luxury-tax apron.
ESPN salary cap analyst Bobby Marks reported the move reduced Minnesota’s projected tax bill from roughly $24 million to about $3.8 million.
More critically, it restored the Timberwolves’ ability to aggregate contracts and take back more salary than they send out, making an Antetokounmpo trade easier than last week.
Bucks Target Jaden McDaniels, Draft Capital in Talks
Despite Minnesota’s expanded player pool, Milwaukee’s priorities remain clear.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reported that the Bucks have targeted McDaniels as a potential centerpiece, viewing the 25-year-old as a future All-Star caliber defender who could anchor the next phase of the franchise.
But Mannix added that the Bucks are also seeking multiple first-round picks — a challenge for a Timberwolves team whose draft inventory has already been thinned by prior win-now moves.
“It’s why the Wolves have been canvassing the league in search of them,” Mannix wrote.
Deadline Pressure Mounts as Wolves Race the Clock
With Miami shifting its focus to Morant and Golden State still navigating its own complications, Minnesota has a clearer lane — but not an easier one. The Timberwolves are now racing not only rival teams, but time itself, as they attempt to convert flexibility and players into the draft capital Milwaukee demands.
Whether Minnesota can close the gap before Thursday’s deadline remains uncertain. What is clear is that the Timberwolves have chosen their moment, putting nearly their entire roster on the table in pursuit of a franchise-altering swing — and hoping the Giannis Antetokounmpo race breaks their way just in time.