A three-team NBA trade that went down Tuesday has many fans thinking one team is trying to position itself to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks
The Minnesota Timberwolves traded Mike Conley to Chicago as part of the deal, which also involves the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons are getting Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric from Chicago, while former first-round pick Jaden Ivey is heading to the Bulls.
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. pic.twitter.com/pgxqr1WT90
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
Conley is making roughly $10.7 million this season on an expiring contract, so this is purely a salary dump from the Timberwolves’ perspective. That led to many wondering if this is a deal setting them up to make a real run at Antetokounmpo.
“Now why would Minnesota clear cap space?” pic.twitter.com/mMo1054ZMs
— EyeTestSports (@EyeTestSportsHQ) February 3, 2026
ok the giannis trade might be happening
— kev mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) February 3, 2026
Minnesota prepping for Giannis oh shi
— 🌨️ (@NotLikeRuss) February 3, 2026
The trade brings Minnesota below the first salary cap apron and will drop their luxury tax bill by over $20 million. It is entirely plausible that the rationale simply has to do with that, but given their known interest in Antetokounmpo, it is easy to see why people think this could be a prelude to a larger move.
Minnesota’s biggest problem in any Antetokounmpo pursuit is their relative lack of future first-round picks. They do not own their firsts in 2028 or 2030 due to the Rudy Gobert deal, so if Milwaukee wants a huge haul of future firsts, the Timberwolves cannot really accommodate them. That is why there are other teams viewed as more likely to land him, but Tuesday’s trade certainly suggests that the Wolves think they have a shot.
