In the wake of the ESPN report that Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are both open to parting ways via trade ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, Minnesota’s name was mentioned too frequently by league insiders to ignore.

ESPN’s Shams Charania cited the Timberwolves as a potential suitor, while Brian Windhorst from the same network said it’s Antetokounmpo who has interest in Minnesota.

That matters. The fact Kevin Durant wasn’t thrilled about playing for the Timberwolves dissuaded Tim Connelly and Co. from fully pursuing a trade for the aging superstar over the summer. This front office only wants players who want to be here.

Which limits the field. Not everyone wants to play in Minnesota. If Antetokounmpo — who has spent his entire NBA career in Wisconsin — is indeed intrigued by the possibility of moving one state away, a major box is checked.

And Connelly, who traded for Gobert and attempted to move mountains to acquire Durant, has demonstrated a propensity to go after the league’s top players, when available. So, a lot lines up here.

Pairing a 31-year-old Antetokounmpo, an undisputed, top-four player in the NBA, with Anthony Edwards — a top-seven player in his own right — would put Minnesota near the top of the NBA championship contention conversation for years to come.

Such a move would push Minnesota from a team that “might” reach an NBA Finals over the next two or three years to a team that would be favored to reach them.

That alone probably makes a deal worth doing, but exactly which deal is always the question. Milwaukee is reportedly seeking the moon and the stars in return for its franchise pillar, who brought the Bucks a championship in 2021. As it should.

NBA salary cap constraints complicate any deal, but Minnesota has a number of salaries that can be aggregated to help the financial dots connect. Even if it looks impossible, recent history suggests where there’s a will in these instances, there’s a way.

Some combination of Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert can be made to work.

If the Bucks, or another team likely with more available draft capital itching to join the dance as a third partner, coveted McDaniels and Reid, would Minnesota be willing to give away two of its apparent near and long-term Edwards’ running mates?

If the answer is “No,” it’s tough to see a deal reaching the finish line — especially given the number of other organizations interested in the transcendent forward. According to reports, the Wolves are boxing the likes of the Knicks, Heat and Warriors in this fight, with Minnesota having no valuable draft compensation with which to barter.

But as difficult as it would be for the Wolves to say goodbye to two of the organization’s greatest development stories — who are still ascending talents with yet to be determined ceilings — a player of Antetokounmpo’s stature may be the rare exception that produces a “Yes.”

Even if that meant saying some hard “Goodbyes.”

Even if that meant moving forward with a clunky roster for the duration of this season.

Even if that meant re-thinking the franchise’s entire plan for the next five to 10 years.

Because chances to acquire championship-caliber, No. 1 players still in their prime don’t come around often.

Not for Minnesota. Not for anyone.

When these opportunities knock, you almost have no choice but to answer.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates with guard AJ Green (20) after hitting a last-second game-winning basket against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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