The Minnesota Timberwolves were involved in a the three-team deal that emerged on Tuesday, February 3, and even though they didn’t secure a big name in the trade, that perhaps wasn’t the point. The deal sent Minnesota guard Mike Conley Jr. to the Chicago Bulls, and that move along with have an impact on the team’s available funds.
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania out on Tuesday, in the trade, the Bulls acquired Conley and Pistons guard Jaden Ivey, while the Detroit Pistons secured Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric and a 2026 first-round from the Timberwolves.
The deal eliminated the Timberwolves need to pay Conley his $10.7 million salary, which gives them more funding to try to secure a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.
If that sounds complicated, that’s because it does have a lot of layers. But, that’s how things work in the NBA as the trade deadline approaches.
On Tuesday, February 3, Sam Amick of The Athletic stated in a feature, “As of Monday evening, the offers coming the Bucks’ way for the ‘Greek Freak’ were still believed to be so underwhelming, in the eyes of rival executives and agents, that this saga looked likely to extend into the summertime.”
So, the Minnesota Timberwolves may be able to afford Antetokounmpo now, and a new report supports that idea.
On Wednesday, February 4, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points shared an update that should make the Timberwolves happy.
“The Heat, who league sources indicate are no longer at the forefront of Giannis trade talks before Thursday’s deadline, are attempting to trade for Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, sources told Clutch Points,” he stated on X. “There is a belief the Heat can pull off a Trae Young-like deal for Morant.”
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So, if the Heat is out, that certainly helps the Minnesota Timberwolves in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo.
Jamal Collier of ESPN also agrees that moving Conley freed up cash for the Timberwolves, which would favor a trade for Antetokounmpo. Couple that with the extra funding, and you have a good case to be made for bringing Antetokounmpo to Minnesota.
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Regarding the three-team deal, Jamal Collier of ESPN also states that trading Conley freed up cash for the Timberwolves. “Minnesota, meanwhile, did not receive a player in the deal, but moving Conley, 38, helps the Timberwolves financially,” he says in his ESPN piece.
He adds, “They are now under the first apron and dropped their luxury tax bill from $24 million to $3.8 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.”