Minnesota does not need another face of the franchise. Anthony Edwards already owns that job, and that changes the way the Wolves should read any Giannis Antetokounmpo chase. A team with its star in place has to protect the structure around him, not just pursue the biggest name available.
Giannis Trade Could Cost Anthony Edwards More Than It Helps Him
Anthony Edwards Already Changes the Price
The question is not whether Antetokounmpo is good enough. He is still a 10-time All-Star and two-time MVP, and Minnesota would gain a force few teams can match. The real question is whether that upgrade justifies breaking a roster that already has an answer at the top.
That is where the Wolves can start to look different from other bidders. They are not trading for a savior. They are trading for a second star, which means the cost has to be judged against what Edwards loses, not just what Antetokounmpo adds.
The Package Goes Beyond Draft Picks
The reported price is heavy enough to force a pause. The Athletic’s report puts Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr., a first-round pick in this month’s draft, and Minnesota’s 2033 first-rounder in the frame — a complete roster reset.
McDaniels matters because he gives Minnesota size and switchability on the wing. The organization has long viewed him as more than just trade ballast, which helps explain its resistance to including him in trade talks for Giannis.
Reid matters because he gives the Wolves scoring and bulk without losing pace. Shannon matters because he is still cheap, still young, and still growing into a larger role. Taking all three at once would strip out three different jobs.
The Calendar Still Works Against Minnesota
The bigger issue is not just the trade cost. It is the time left on the payoff. Antetokounmpo missed 31 games due to calf and knee problems that limited him throughout the season. The ceiling stays enormous. The floor on availability does not.
That matters because Minnesota would be buying a short runway if the health line keeps bending. Spotrac lists Antetokounmpo at $58.46 million next season, with a player option in 2027-28. If he arrives without an extension, the Wolves could be paying a premium price for a deal that expires before the roster matures around him.
A Darius Garland Deal Could Solve a Different Need
That is why a different move deserves more attention. Darius Garland is a cleaner fit for the task Minnesota actually has in front of it. The Wolves need someone who can ease Edwards’ load, organize the offense, and address the issues frustrating Edwards without tearing apart the roster. Garland points toward that kind of answer.
Garland would not change the ceiling the way Antetokounmpo would. He would reshape the team by helping solve Minnesota‘s offensive imbalance while preserving much of its defensive core. That is the more useful move for a team that already has a star, a young core, and enough playoff pressure without handing away half of its useful depth.
Minnesota Does Not Need to Burn the Bridge
Antetokounmpo still makes sense in the abstract. He makes sense for teams that are still searching for a center of gravity. Minnesota is past that stage. The Wolves now have to decide whether one massive swing is worth losing pieces that can help Edwards for years.
That is why the safer answer may be the smarter one. Keep the core and the flexibility. Add a guard who solves a need without emptying the room. Minnesota can chase a title without turning its own future into the price of admission.
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