Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
NBACentral: Minnesota’s trade package is gaining momentum as the one Milwaukee values most, with the Bucks valuing Minnesota and Miami’s packages over Golden State’s, per @JakeLFischer (Via @BleacherReport / h/t @HeatCulture13 )
Marc Stein on Giannis Antetokounmpo: Minnesota has been in this thing from the jump. And the reason is, based on everything I’ve been told, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a very strong admiration for Anthony Edwards—and there have been back-channel discussions about this going back to the summer. The issue the Wolves have is the only pick they can throw in right now is a 2028 first-round swap. That’s not going to get it done. So they would have to trade Jaden McDaniels for sure, which is something they’ve resisted in the past. They would not include McDaniels in any discussions for Kevin Durant.”
Shams Charania: Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota.
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in a significant trade that will involve three future first-round picks heading back to Memphis, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. The picks Memphis is receiving are a 2027 first-rounder (the most favorable between Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah), the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2027 first-rounder (top-four protected) and the Phoenix Suns’ 2031 first-rounder (unprotected), according to the source.
Jake Fischer: The Utah Jazz are trading their most favorable 2027 first-round pick (Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah), the Lakers' 2027 first-round pick, and Phoenix's 2031 first-round pick to Memphis, source says, to pry Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies.
Advertisement
The focus has been on the Miamis, and Minnesota’s because those are believed to be teams Giannis would like to end up with. Golden State was described as one of those team for a half decade but there has been some questions, and rumbles lately if Giannis is still armored with the idea of teaming up with the Warriors as he once was 4-5 years ago and there is some active skepticism about that, that he doesn’t see the Warriors as a landing spot
Shams Charania: The Bucks are sifting through proposals specifically from the heat Wolves, Knicks and Warriors. And throughout the whole process, the Bucks have wanted a young blue chip talent and or a surplus of draft picks. And so my understanding is the Warriors have made a pick heavy offer. Minnesota is more of a player centric offer, and Miami is somewhere in the middle, somewhere between players and picks. And so the Bucks are going to have to choose. Do we take one of these offers?
Allen Stiles: Sam Amick on @Sactown1140 sounds like Keon’s market faded a little, Kings wanted to make sure they got something - Minnesota was 2 2nds but started focusing on Giannis - Indy didn’t want to give up a 1st while still having Benedict Mathurin - “Boston was in there too but faded”
Kings sources say they had several suitors fall through in recent days and weeks, among them Indiana, Boston and Minnesota. The Pacers had concerns about Ellis' ability to find playing time over Bennedict Mathurin, who is headed for restricted free agency. Mathurin might be on the move before the trade deadline, but so long as he was on their roster, giving up a first-rounder for Ellis was deemed a dicey proposition. The Celtics also retreated with their interest.
Advertisement
“At our core, the Timberwolves and the Lynx are about bringing people together through the power of sports,” said Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Matthew Caldwell. “At a time when unity and compassion matter more than ever in Minnesota, supporting nonprofits that are delivering critical resources is one way we stand with our neighbors in need and strengthen our community.” The foundation’s board has carefully reviewed and approved these grants to ensure funds support programs delivering measurable impact.
The Timberwolves are rarely mentioned as a Giannis contender on par with Miami, Golden State and New York ... but multiple sources we've spoken to say they should be. Difficult as it is, on one hand, to regard Minnesota as a threat on that level when it currently has nothing of draft consequence to offer beyond a first-round pick swap in 2028, The Stein Line has learned that Antetokounmpo has quietly had the Timberwolves in his thoughts dating to the offseason. League sources say that the prospect of teaming up with Anthony Edwards holds strong appeal for Antetokounmpo, which led to some notable backchannel discussions in recent months that lend true legitimacy to Minnesota's status as a potential landing spot despite the undeniable obstacles that the Timberwolves would face.
The Wolves made Jaden McDaniels untouchable when Kevin Durant had interest in being traded from Phoenix to Minnesota to team up with Edwards, but they would be expected to relent in an Antetokounmpo deal ... especially given the limitations of Minnesota's current ability to sweeten any offer with draft picks.
