Giannis Antetokounmpo has the entire league actively pursuing him and the Minnesota Timberwolves as one of the most aggressive, but acquiring the Bucks superstar won’t be easy.
Minnesota has pushed hard to position itself in the sweepstakes, yet any deal would likely need a complicated four-team trade to come together, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
“Minnesota is out there hustling. From what I was told, Minnesota needs four teams involved in this deal. Not just three, they need four. Minnesota is limited to what they can offer [Milwaukee]—I was told, four teams have to be involved for this deal to get done.” @SIChrisMannix https://t.co/j5djSxxp4r pic.twitter.com/oa4AlhGf7A
— Dru (@dru_star) February 4, 2026
On the Open Floor podcast, Mannix emphasized that Minnesota’s main obstacle isn’t a lack of interest, but rather the complexity of putting a trade together.
“Now, the Minnesota side of it, Minnesota is out there hustling. From what I was told, Minnesota needs four teams involved in this deal. Not just three, they need four, because I think that Milwaukee really likes Jaden McDaniels. They think he can be kind of a centerpiece young player in that deal. But Minnesota is limited to what they can offer in terms of draft picks.”
Could Giannis Antetokounmpo join the Timberwolves?
The Bucks leverage only adds to the challenge. Jon Horst and Milwaukee don’t have to rush, and if the right trade package doesn’t appear, delaying the decision until the offseason remains a viable path. That strategy becomes even more appealing if teams like Minnesota fall short of the draft pick requirements, giving Milwaukee the chance to reopen discussions later while maintaining control over the process.
“They need to get more teams involved that can satisfy the demand of the Bucks to have multiple first-round picks in this deal. They’re hustling, they’re working, they’re trying to find a solution to that problem. I don’t know that they’ve found it. In fact, I know they haven’t found it yet, as we record this at 3:45 Eastern on Tuesday,” Mannix added.
The Timberwolves have emerged as an unexpected contender for Giannis Antetokounmpo, offering more than just a potential trade path. With his focus on legacy and narrative, teaming up with Anthony Edwards gives Giannis an extended window to compete at the highest level and the chance to make history in a city that has never captured an NBA title.
Minnesota can’t make a move without other teams willing to offer significant draft assets. That challenge is why insiders remain doubtful a deal will materialize before the deadline and why the situation increasingly points toward a resolution coming in the offseason.
