Giannis Sweepstakes Focuses on Timberwolves, Heat and Warriors
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ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Wednesday that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat are working harder than the New York Knicks to pry Giannis Antetokounmpo away from the Milwaukee Bucks before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Speaking on “Get Up” and “First Take,” Windhorst labeled the pursuit of the two-time Most Valuable Player a “three-team race” involving Minnesota, Miami and the Golden State Warriors—unless an unexpected bidder surfaces at the eleventh hour.
Draft-pick limits shape offers
The Warriors can send Milwaukee as many as four tradable first-round picks, the analyst noted. Miami is limited to two first-rounders, while Minnesota and New York are currently blocked from trading their own firsts because of the Stepien rule.
Milwaukee is requesting both blue-chip talent and future picks, so teams short on draft capital would need to flip veterans for additional assets. Windhorst said the Knicks are not trying to create such flexibility, leading him to remove New York from his list of realistic suitors “until further notice.”
Bucks may wait until summer
Windhorst added that the top offer he has heard comes from Golden State—centered on Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and multiple first-rounders—and that package has not been formally rejected. However, he senses little momentum toward an immediate deal and believes Bucks ownership could decide to keep Antetokounmpo through the offseason.
“Giannis is ready to move, these other teams are ready to move,” Windhorst said. “The question is whether Bucks ownership, in the next 24 hours, says, ‘OK, let’s move on from him now.’”
Timberwolves, Heat searching for more assets
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reported that Milwaukee would target forward Jaden McDaniels in any Timberwolves package but still wants first-round picks, prompting Minnesota to canvass the league for additional selections. According to one source cited by Mannix, virtually every Timberwolves player except Anthony Edwards could be discussed, and a four-team framework might be required to satisfy the Bucks.
The Heat are also exploring ways to bolster a proposal built around their two available first-rounders.
Potential Draymond Green reroute
Should Golden State strike a deal, Green is expected to seek an immediate move to a new destination. Windhorst mentioned the Los Angeles Lakers as a team that would share mutual interest with the four-time champion if Milwaukee looks to reroute him.
League executives expect talks to resume after season
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel and Mannix both reported that rival front offices believe Milwaukee is collecting information now and could reopen trade discussions in the summer, when more teams will have the flexibility to enter a bidding war. One executive told Mannix that Minnesota “badly” prefers to complete a trade this week to avoid that scenario.
The trade deadline arrives Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
Source: Hoops Rumors
