Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t the problem for the Heat on Wednesday as they were obliterated by the Timberwolves 131-106.

Pretty much everyone else on his team was the problem. Which underscores the problem with trading for Giannis.

And quite possibly makes the Wolves thankful that they didn’t end up trading for him eight months ago, even if it felt like a letdown at the time.

It’s always dangerous to make bold proclamations after 48 minutes of basketball, but not as dangerous as the Wolves looked Wednesday.

LaMelo Ball was a maestro, scoring 21 points with six assists in his Wolves debut. He wouldn’t be here if the Wolves had traded for Giannis. Naz Reid and the picks sent to Charlotte for Ball would have been needed in a Giannis trade.

Jaden McDaniels had 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals, showing the form that might make him a first-time All-Star this year. He probably wouldn’t be here if the Wolves had pulled off a Giannis trade, given that he reportedly was a main target of the Bucks.

Anthony Edwards had an Anthony Edwards hat trick (45 points, 10 rebounds and a technical foul). He would still be here if Giannis had been traded to the Wolves instead of Miami, but it’s doubtful he would have had the floor space or command of the team that he enjoyed Wednesday had it happened.

Terrence Shannon Jr.? He, too, might have been part of a package to the Bucks.

Ayo Dosunmu? The Wolves probably don’t trade for him at the deadline if they make an all-in shove for Giannis.

So, you know, about half of the Wolves’ opening night rotation wouldn’t be here and Edwards might have been diminished.

It’s funny how things work out, and they worked out beautifully for the Wolves on Wednesday.

As masterful as Edwards was and as lethal as the Ball-Edwards-McDaniels Big Three might be this season, the Wolves’ depth was their most pleasant surprise against the Heat. (Runner-up: A defense that was much better than I thought it would be, too.)

Head coach Chris Finch played only nine guys before garbage time, but none had to play more than 33 minutes.

Dosunmu (16 points, five rebounds, three assists and a plus-21 in 29 minutes, one more than Ball played) is an ideal sixth man for the Wolves. Shannon had 10 points in 19 minutes, and more importantly he looked up to the task on defense.

Joan Beringer and Trey Lyles ... also played. They were perfectly fine. If the Wolves can score 131 points without getting a field goal from starting center Rudy Gobert or a backup big, they are entitled to do so. They didn’t get swallowed whole in the non-Gobert minutes, which was certainly a possibility.

Bones Hyland, Jaylen Clark and Cody Williams didn’t play until garbage time. All of them could have played more, and perhaps would have, if the Wolves had traded for Giannis.

Instead it was the Heat giving up some key rotation players and a boatload of draft picks (way more than the Wolves could have given up in the latter category) to get Giannis and Bobby Portis.

The core of their roster might have been capable of helping the Heat win the 2023 NBA title, but I’m told the finals this year are in 2027.

Antetokounmpo had 35 points and is still a very dangerous scorer, but he is nowhere near the defensive force that he once was. Nobody else had more than 15 points for the Heat.

Giannis, Portis and Andrew Wiggins turn all 32 this year. Klay Thompson is 36, but he plays older. Tim Hardaway Jr. is 34. Center Bam Adebayo is only 29 but is coming off the least efficient season of his career. He and Giannis take up about $108 million in combined cap space this year.

Guard Davion Mitchell, 28, can play, but he was the only one interested in chasing anyone on defense. Edwards constantly had single coverage against overmatched opponents, at least until the second half, and the fight wasn’t fair.

The Wolves could be staring at that kind of future, but instead they leaned into a bunch of springy mid-20s veterans who have experience but not high mileage.

Seven of the nine players in the Wolves rotation Wednesday are 26 or younger, including newcomer Jonathan Kuminga (another guy who might not be here if Giannis was here occupying the starting power forward spot, and who was terrific in his role).

The Wolves might have had a real problem on their hands if only they had traded for one of the best players in recent NBA history.

Instead? They look like they’re going to be a problem for the rest of the league.

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