The Milwaukee Bucks finally ended years of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation by, well, trading him to the Heat this summer. As hard as it was to see him go, it was necessary, giving the organization clear direction after a few years filled with uncertainty and disappointment.
It's still too soon to know which star will be at the center of trade rumors next, but it's just a matter of time. Will it be Anthony Davis? That wouldn't be surprising. Or Devin Booker? That'd be more of a surprise, but it's within the realm of possibility. How about Anthony Edwards? Now, that would be a shock.
To be clear, Edwards hasn't indicated he's unhappy in Minneapolis. He's not doing anything like making cryptic posts on social media or liking posts about a trade. The Timberwolves don't want that ever to happen, much less think about the 25-year-old star actually wanting out, though there is always the chance that, based on how things shake out, it could happen.
Most notably, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line wrote a few weeks ago that rival executives noted the Hawks have tradable salaries and draft capital to go after a star (subscription required). Atlanta would quite literally love nothing more than bringing Edwards home. It's a far-fetched scenario right now, but things can quickly change in the NBA.
Will there be Anthony Edwards trade speculation this season?
As smaller-market teams know, it's not easy to lure in outside talent. The Bucks hit the jackpot when they drafted Antetokounmpo with the No. 15 pick in 2013, as the Timberwolves did when they left the 2020 draft with Edwards, the No. 1 selection. You can say he's lived up to the hype.
What he hasn't done yet, though, is lead Minnesota to a championship, but there's still time for that to happen. Edwards led the Timberwolves to the conference finals in 2024, the team's first appearance in 20 years, and took them right back in 2025. This past season, their season ended in the second round at the hands of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, with the guard dealing with knee issues.
The question is whether Edwards and Minnesota will have what it takes to be the last team standing. For what it's worth, the Timberwolves believe they can, and they did what they hope will boost their chances of getting there by trading for LaMelo Ball.
What if that partnership doesn't work out?
We all know that Edwards, when healthy, is capable of being one of the best players in the league. Since the Timberwolves' back-to-back conference finals runs, though, the rest of the West (and the NBA) has gotten better. San Antonio isn't going anywhere for a while, nor is Oklahoma City.
Time isn't running out for Edwards and Minnesota, at least not yet, but the inkling of wonder about whether he will ultimately leave Minneapolis has already been planted. It doesn't help that Atlanta could be the next team looking to make a big splash, though the Hawks will probably look to do so before the Timberwolves even think about trading Ant, unless he's the one who asks out.
He's loyal, as Antetokounmpo is, so this could end up being another saga similar to what Milwaukee just got out of, with outsiders declaring Giannis was ready to leave before he reached the point of deciding it was time to leave and try to win elsewhere.
If the Timberwolves fail to at least make it out of the West, the rumor mill will ramp up, though it could before then if Minnesota stumbles during the season. After years in that position, Milwaukee will be glad to see another team take the spotlight.
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