A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade feels more imminent than ever, and the Portland Trail Blazers may be able to benefit if a blockbuster does go down.
The Minnesota Timberwolves just established themselves as serious suitors for the former MVP, shipping out Mike Conley to clear up cap space and passing up on Coby White to leave room for a Giannis-sized deal. While Portland landing Antetokounmpo himself probably isn’t in the cards, they could still get involved in the trade and add a different stud.
Jaden McDaniels is an obvious target for the Trail Blazers
According to Brian Windhorst, the Wolves have been searching for a third team to help them acquire Antetokounmpo. Portland is a clear candidate to fill that role because they have assets Milwaukee will covet highly. The Blazers have control over three Bucks first-round picks, and Milwaukee would be silly not try to recover them if they enter a rebuild. The picks could be the sweetener the Bucks need to part ways with their franchise GOAT.
If Portland aids Minnesota, their conference rivals, in their efforts to secure the Greek Freak, they’d need to be compensated handsomely. That’s where Jaden McDaniels comes in.
McDaniels has grown into one of the best two-way forwards in the association. The former All-Defensive honoree is averaging a remarkably efficient 15.2 points per game this year, shooting 51.9% from the field and 45.6% from three. His self-creation ability has improved every year, and his production usually jumps significantly when Anthony Edwards gets hurt.
Acquiring McDaniels would be a no-brainer for the Blazers. He checks all the boxes. He’s 25 years old, a strong shooter and an elite defender. Portland has been linked to Mikal Bridges in the midst of Giannis rumors, and McDaniels is a cheaper and arguably better version of the Knicks wing.
The Blazers should be very cautious not to cough up Milwaukee’s picks. They’re extremely valuable. That said, Jaden McDaniels could very well be worth flipping at least one of them for. He’d be an excellent sidekick for Deni Avdija as Portland looks to ascend in the West.