There are four teams emerging as the favorites to acquire Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo: the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and... Minnesota Timberwolves?
Although the Portland Trail Blazers would help make the Western Conference even stronger, their best option could be to facilitate a Giannis-Wolves blockbuster. The main reason? Jaden McDaniels.
Blazers should steal Jaden McDaniels if Giannis gets traded to the Wolves
The Blazers are all but out of the running in the Giannis trade sweepstakes as he reportedly has no interest in coming to Portland. However, they still have a key role to play as facilitators should they decide to cash in the Bucks picks they stole from the Damian Lillard deal. That gives them pivotal leverage, and could even be the very thing that decides Giannis' fate.
The Bucks want to rebuild in a post-Giannis era, meaning their best package is likely the one that gets at least some of those picks back. So, the third team that has the most to offer Portland to incentivize them to facilitate this trade could ultimately come away with the Greek Freak.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line that Giannis is intrigued by the idea of pairing up with Anthony Edwards (subscription required), and has "quietly had the Timberwolves in his thoughts dating to the offseason." He also adds that Minnesota would presumably "try pretty much anything" to make a deal materialize. Edwards could very well be the only Wolves player off-limits in this scenario, giving the Blazers a legitimate shot at acquiring McDaniels.
The two-way forward already has the Pacific Northwest connections, born in Federal Way, Washington, and attending the University of Washington. But most importantly, he's a perfect fit for the Blazers roster. Portland's front office loves length, athleticism, and defense -- qualities that epitomize McDaniels' game as a versatile 6-foot-9, disruptive defender.
He's just 25 years old, which would align perfectly with their core pieces such as Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. He also continues to expand his offensive arsenal, having a career year with averages of 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on efficient 51/42/85 shooting splits. Similar to Camara, he's already a reliable 3-and-D wing who only continues to improve as a playmaker and shot creator. Even better, he's already locked in with four years remaining on a reasonable contract.
Compared to the options on the other three teams in the running for Giannis, McDaniels is the best Portland can do to add to its core. He's already better than Mikal Bridges, somewhat cheaper, and four years younger. Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga aren't the needle movers worth surrendering any of that draft capital for. The Blazers didn't like the Heat's package in past Lillard negotiations, and not much has changed on Miami's roster since then.
While McDaniels isn't worth all of the Bucks' draft capital, Portland must get involved and steal him by including some of those picks in a package that sends Giannis to Minnesota. The Blazers are quietly in control of the situation because of those picks, and McDaniels is the one they should want to come away with.