Tension is rising around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future as the Warriors face pressure to maximize the final years of Stephen Curry’s prime.
Antetokounmpo may be the final key for a Warriors team that needs a dramatic shift to remain in championship contention, not just for this season but for the future ahead. A potential move for him would surely send shockwaves across the NBA landscape, and it may not be as unrealistic as it once seemed.
Could the Warriors Actually Pull Off a Giannis Trade?
Why Giannis Might Be Available
For Warriors fans, the idea of Giannis being linked to Golden State probably feels like deja vu after years of rumours. But this season, it finally looks real.
Antetokounmpo remains one of the league’s most dominant forces. But the Bucks’ recent struggles have intensified questions about whether the current roster can still compete at the highest level. With a 10-15 record, placed 10th in the East, Milwaukee faces mounting pressure to rethink its long-term direction. Giannis is expected to miss as long as four weeks with a calf injury, and with Milwaukee’s poor run of form, a trade to the Warriors suddenly feels more plausible than ever.
Is Giannis’ era in Milwaukee nearing its conclusion?
Why the Warriors Would Pursue Him
Why wouldn’t any team pursue Giannis?
An 11-time All-Star averaging 29 points this season, the “Greek Freak” remains one of the most dominant players in NBA history and arguably the greatest power forward of all time. Right now, the Warriors struggle for consistent inside scoring. And there’s no better player in the league to fill that void. The Dubs currently rank last in the NBA for points in the paint, while Giannis leads the league with an average of 20 points per game. He seems like a perfect fit within Steve Kerr’s system in the Bay.
Together with Curry, Antetokounmpo would instantly reshape and transform the Warriors’ offense. Pairing elite three-point shooting with Giannis’ dominant post play would create a dual-threat attack capable of propelling the Warriors back into championship contention. And if this is Curry’s final push for a fifth championship, a move for Antetokounmpo could represent the most decisive gamble Golden State could make.
What a Trade Could Actually Look Like
Any deal for Antetokounmpo would require the Warriors to part with nearly all of their young core. A realistic package begins with Jonathan Kuminga, who already appears to be on the way out, along with the pairing of Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski. From there, Golden State would need to include multiple unprotected first-round picks and swaps to even get Milwaukee’s attention.
However, Dub Nation shouldn’t expect 35-year-old Draymond Green to be a part of the trade package. Multiple reports indicate that Curry, Green, and head coach Kerr would remain together until retirement.
So could Jimmy Butler be involved instead? It’s unlikely, especially considering he’s the Warriors’ second-highest scorer behind Curry. But with Golden State rapidly running out of answers and their current core failing to produce consistent results, nothing can be fully ruled out.
In reality, it would be a full-blown Hail Mary for the Warriors to land Giannis. But it’s the kind of dream Dub Nation has always held onto.
But What If It Doesn’t Happen?
Even if the Warriors miss out on Giannis, the fallout might be far less severe than it seems. Golden State could still find themselves right in the middle of a multi-team trade. This allows them to walk away with a valuable piece even without landing Antetokounmpo. Players like Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, or Myles Turner could all become realistic targets for them in a three-team scenario.
So either way, the Warriors could benefit from the Giannis situation. The pathways may simply look different, but the end goal of fixing key issues and building a winning team remains the same.
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