Timberwolves' Asking Price for Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Revealed, Per Insider

Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving the Milwaukee Bucks as early as this season is becoming more and more of a certainty with each passing day. With the offseason now almost here, the Bucks front office continues to search for pieces and assets they could receive in exchange for the two-time MVP. The Minnesota Timberwolves are among the teams interested, and many have now learned what they may have to give up to bring the Greek Freak on board.

Initially, people in the NBA sphere thought a trade with the Wolves would include an All-Star-caliber talent like Julius Randle or Rudy Gobert. But The Athletic reports that might not be the case at all.

According to league insiders Eric Nehm and Sam Amick, the Bucks would prefer to acquire young, blue-chip talent from the Wolves. In fact, the Bucks' asking price does not include a single all-star at all.

The players they'd want from Minnesota in exchange for Giannis are Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Terrence Shannon Jr., and they also want the 29th pick in the upcoming draft, as well as the Wolves' 2033 first-rounder.

McDaniels is a 6-foot-9 wing who initially made a name for himself with his scrappy defense. He's also grown into a highly efficient scorer with a reliable 3-point shot, with 41.2% accuracy in the 2025-26 regular season. Under the right system, he has the potential to become an All-Star.

Reid, meanwhile, has become one of the most consistent 6th men in the league. He provides scoring, rebounding, and energy off the bench and is the type of player any squad with title aspirations needs. In 25-26, he played the role of a solid bench player for the Wolves, scoring 13.6 ppg and grabbing 6.2 rpg.

Then there's Shannon Jr., who has only been in the league for two seasons and hasn't had a lot of chances to prove himself. He's only played in a total of 75 regular-season games combined since being drafted, but was already a factor in this year's playoffs.

He scored a postseason career-high 24 points in the Wolves' series-clinching Game 6 win against the Denver Nuggets in Round 1. Then, in Round 2 against the San Antonio Spurs, he had three double-digit scoring games: 16 in Game 1, 12 in Game 2, and 21 in Game 6.

All three of Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Terrence Shannon Jr. would help accelerate a rebuild in Milwaukee's post-Giannis Antetokounmpo era. And it is likely a direction the front office would consider. With those three players, the Bucks could remain relevant in the Eastern Conference while also building for the future. Combined with additional draft assets, including their own No. 10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Milwaukee would hope to find its next franchise cornerstone.

Meanwhile, the Wolves are risking taking the two-time MVP on a one-year rental.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Wants to Remain in the Eastern Conference

Any team trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo risks gutting their roster for what may effectively be a one-year rental. He has a player option for the 2027-28 season, which he could decline to become a free agent if he ends up disliking where he's traded.

That risk is amplified for Western Conference teams, since the 2021 Finals MVP, reportedly, has a strong preference for staying in the Eastern Conference.

"The widely held belief that Antetokounmpo prefers to play in the East, and the level of chatter relating to those teams around the league. To that end, the Portland possibility, which has become such a focal point, is, per league sources, unlikely given Antetokounmpo’s preference to play in the East," insider Sam Amick said per The Athletic earlier this month.

In that regard, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics stand out as Giannis' most likely destinations.

Still, teams that aren't listed among his preferred landing spots seem undeterred by these reports. After all, they have a full year to convince him to stay.

If that team can prove that they have what it takes to compete consistently, and also make Giannis feel like he's found a real new home, then he might ultimately choose to remain there.

On the other hand, if said team can't convince him to stay but can still get a title run with him, then it can still be considered a win. After all, that's not an unprecedented event.

Kawhi Leonard had the same situation when he was traded to the Toronto Raptors. He stayed only a single year, but that year yielded the franchise's first title.