Getty
One NBA team just opened up some cash flow to put in for a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.
The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t bring a huge star with the three-team deal that broke on Tuesday, February 3, but the deal may have a larger plan. The Timberwolves sent guard Mike Conley Jr. to the Chicago Bulls with the deal, and that will have a significant impact on the team’s finances.
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls brought on Conley and Pistons guard Jaden Ivey. In exchange, the Detroit Pistons got Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric and a protected 2026 first-round swap from the Timberwolves.
So, this deal may look bad, at first. You may be asking, “What did the Minnesota Timberwolves” get from this deal?” What they got, in a sense, was cash. In making the deal, they got rid of Conley’s $10.7 million salary, which gives them much more to work with to put in for a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It’s worth noting that Antetokounmpo is one of the hottest players on the trade circuit this season. Teams have been trying to make a trade for him, but the money just hasn’t been there. Until now, perhaps.
Polymarket Projects Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Minnesota Timberwolves
In a piece out on Tuesday, February 3, Sam Amick of The Athletic writes, “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 Timberwolves now have the bag to make a decent offer for Antetokounmpo, and that might be the idea behind the trade. According to Polymarket, Antetokounmpo is “now projected to go to the Timberwolves if he’s traded,” leading the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors.
The only more likely outcome, according to Polymarket, is the player staying with the Milwaukee Bucks.
So, it’s possible that the entire reason the Timberwolves were open to this three-team trade was to open up the finances to bring on Antetokounmpo ahead of the trade deadline. The 2026 NBA trade deadline is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 5, which leaves plenty of time for a deal. To make the trade deadline, all transactions must be sent to the NBA office by that time.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Motives for Three-Team Trade
Jamal Collier of ESPN also agrees that moving Conley freed up cash for the Timberwolves, which would favor a trade for Antetokounmpo.
“Minnesota, meanwhile, did not receive a player in the deal, but moving Conley, 38, helps the Timberwolves financially,” he says in his ESPN piece. “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.”
He adds, “Those savings could be critical this week as Minnesota continues its pursuit of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo heading into Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.
Conley started nine of the 44 games he has appeared in for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. He’s averaging a career-low 4.4 points and 2.9 assists per game, according to ESPN research.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
More Heavy on Bucks
Loading more stories