The Minnesota Timberwolves are preparing for an aggressive offseason pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo after another playoff run ended short of the NBA Finals.
According to an NBA insider Evan Sidery report on Friday, Minnesota is expected to explore the trade market for Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle as part of a potential multi-team framework designed to bring Antetokounmpo to the Timberwolves.
The organization’s preferred outcome is building a championship core around Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
Minnesota reached the Western Conference semifinals for a third consecutive season, but the six-game loss to the San Antonio Spurs exposed several roster issues. The Timberwolves struggled to consistently generate offense outside of Edwards.
The Spurs averaged 122.5 points in their four wins during the series and overwhelmed Minnesota with pace, spacing and star power led by Victor Wembanyama. The gap between Minnesota and the top of the Western Conference became difficult to ignore.
Edwards continued his rise into superstardom during the 2025-26 season. The 24-year-old averaged 28.8 points while shooting 39.9% from three-point range on high volume. Randle added 21.1 points and 5.0 assists per game, while Gobert remained one of the league’s top interior defenders with 11.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest.
Even with strong production from McDaniels, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota still finished 49-33 and 15 games behind the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
That reality appears to be driving the franchise’s interest in Antetokounmpo.
NBA insider Darren Wolfson previously reported on the “Flagrant Howls” podcast that the two-time MVP has interest in “a few places,” with Minnesota viewed as one of the teams connected to him because of the chance to play alongside Edwards.
The financial side of a deal remains complicated.
Gobert, 33, is entering the second season of a three-year, $109.5 million contract and holds a player option for the final year. Randle, 31, is also entering year two of a three-year, $100 million contract with a player option in the final season.
Antetokounmpo is under contract with the Milwaukee Bucks through the 2027-28 season and holds a player option for the final year of his deal. Leaguewide expectations continue to point toward Milwaukee evaluating major roster decisions after finishing 32-50 and missing the playoffs entirely.
Any realistic trade package would likely require multiple rotation players, future draft compensation and additional salary matching through a third team. Minnesota also faces second-apron restrictions, which limits flexibility in constructing blockbuster trades under the current collective bargaining agreement.
Still, the Timberwolves appear determined to maximize Edwards’ championship window.
Team president Tim Connelly has already reshaped the roster multiple times over the last several seasons. After another deep playoff run ended without a Finals appearance, league sources increasingly expect Minnesota to pursue another franchise-altering move this summer.
