Tim Connelly’s comments after the first round of the NBA Draft point to a key internal disagreement: Anthony Edwards’ conviction about Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid may have kept them off the table in any trade pursuit for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The first round of the NBA Draft ended, and Tim Connelly’s voice carried the same message in two different directions: the Timberwolves listen closely, and they also don’t trade the wrong pieces.
After the draft, Connelly explained that Anthony Edwards’ input mattered in the Wolves’ decision-making. “His input is invaluable,” Connelly said. “All players’ input from our team, there’s things they see that we simply don’t see. We’re very fortunate that he’s a guy that knows the league, knows players, and loudly shares his opinions.”.
On its face, that sounds like team-first philosophy. But Connelly’s next statement shifts the meaning, turning praise into a boundary. “There’s been countless things we could’ve done. Our roster is pretty well thought of league-wide,” Connelly said. “When you go to your leaders like Ant and say. ‘It takes this to get that (trade). ’ and the conviction he has in our guys is evident when you say. ‘We’re not trading this guy.’”.
Reading between the lines, that’s where the eyebrow-raising part lives. The draft-room quote feeds into an assumption: Edwards may have told Timberwolves leaders not to include Jaden McDaniels in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Nobody knows for sure. Still, McDaniels isn’t just any trade asset. Since both were drafted in 2020, McDaniels has been Ant’s running mate. Pairing their chemistry with a league-changing star like Antetokounmpo would have been tempting. And yet Connelly’s wording makes the “not trading this guy” sentiment feel personal, not procedural.
The same logic could even extend to what Milwaukee would have demanded. It’s possible the Bucks would have entertained a deal with Minnesota only if the Wolves offered McDaniels and Naz Reid.
Either way, the direction is clear. The Wolves appear set on building around Edwards, McDaniels, and Reid as their top three scoring options.
Connelly also pointed to changes inside the rotation—specifically the expectation that TJ Shannon and Joan Beringer will get elevated roles in 2026-27. “I think TJ was wonderful,” Connelly said. “He was a revelation late in the season and playoffs, and we’re extremely excited about Joan. I think if you talk to anyone in the gym, some of the plays he makes are impressive. I think he has tremendous defensive versatility. I think you’ll be a bit surprised in Summer League by his ability offensively.”.
There’s a quieter but important detail behind all of it: the Wolves’ plan is already structured. Their roster is built around an expected seven-man rotation of Edwards, McDaniels, Reid, Ayo Dosunmu, Rudy Gobert, Shannon, and Beringer.
Then comes the financial lever. With another $15.1 million to spend from their non-taxpayer midlevel exception, the Wolves are still looking for an eighth player. Connelly didn’t name a final target in the comments shared here. but the possibilities listed alongside that roster plan include Quentin Grimes. Collin Sexton. Coby White. or Rui Hachimura.
Depth work doesn’t stop there. Wednesday night brings the second round of the draft, and the Wolves hold the 33rd and 59th picks. One of those players could earn rotation minutes as a rookie.
What’s sitting underneath Connelly’s message is the tension between “countless things we could’ve done” and the conviction that guides the team’s leaders. Edwards’ confidence—described as loud. league-aware. and rooted in seeing what others don’t—lands here as an internal veto: the kind that only happens when a deal requires surrendering a player the franchise leadership believes is too important to move.
Connelly didn’t announce a trade rejected by name. He didn’t have to. The roster is still being built around the same three stars, with slight additions expected and the focus staying on the players already there.
“For now. ” the path looks like this: Edwards leads. McDaniels and Reid stay central. and Shannon and Beringer are positioned to take bigger steps in 2026-27—while the Wolves use the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. the 33rd and 59th picks. and Wednesday night’s draft to add depth. The only question that lingers is whether anyone inside the building pushed as hard as the quote suggests. and whether Giannis Antetokounmpo was ever close enough to make that “not trading this guy” moment hurt.
Tim Connelly Anthony Edwards Jaden McDaniels Naz Reid Giannis Antetokounmpo Timberwolves NBA Draft TJ Shannon Joan Beringer Rudy Gobert Ayo Dosunmu Quentin Grimes Collin Sexton Coby White Rui Hachimura