The Golden State Warriors are in trouble. They now sit down 3-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals, and Stephen Curry is set to miss at least one more game in the series. If the Warriors cannot make a heroic comeback, their season will be over. The Warriors attempted to get Curry some help this season by trading for Jimmy Butler, which seemed to work well. That being said, Butler hasn’t been able to dominate in Curry’s absence as many had hoped.
If the Warriors want to give Curry another chance at a championship and set their franchise up for a successful future without him, they need to do whatever it takes to get the most recent star who could be on the trade market: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Let’s look at why a Giannis-Warriors trade may be necessary for the Warriors to protect their present and their future.
This Team Needs To Go All-In For A Giannis Trade
Are the Warriors Good Enough As Constructed?
The Warriors looked like they might be real title contenders just a few weeks ago. After the Butler trade, they went on a run that put the rest of the league on notice. Unfortunately, in Game 2 of their series against the Rockets, Butler went down with a pelvic injury, and he just hasn’t looked the same since. Now Curry is also injured, and we may never truly know how good this team could have been.
That being said, with all the talent in the Western Conference, and with Curry and Butler being on the tail-end of their prime, even healthy, it is possible the Warriors still aren’t good enough to win a championship. As the team currently stands, they probably aren’t where they want to be as far as championship contention now and in the future.
The Assets for a Giannis-Warriors Trade
The Warriors certainly have some interesting pieces they could offer the Bucks in a trade. First of all, the Warriors have done well to keep their draft assets over the last few years. They could send up to three first-round picks (as well as future swaps) in a potential deal for Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors also have multiple intriguing young players they could add to the deal. Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Quentin Post have all shown that they can contribute to winning basketball and could easily be part of a team’s rebuilding future.
Everyone But Curry Should Be Available
Let’s say the Bucks aren’t that interested in the Warriors’ young assets. This is where Golden State may need to get creative. The Warriors should make everyone on their roster available in order to get Antetokounmpo. This includes trading Butler or even franchise legend Draymond Green—even if they have to get another team involved.
The reason is simple: Giannis solves the present and future of the Warriors. Right now, Butler is showing that he isn’t quite good enough to be the second fiddle on a championship team. Additionally, the Warriors’ young players aren’t inspiring hope that they can take over once Curry retires. By making a Giannis-Warriors trade, the team can give Curry a bona fide superstar for another championship run or two, as well as a cornerstone to lead the franchise into the next generation. The Warriors need to pull out all the stops to get Giannis to their Bay.
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