The Warriors are all-in on Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Golden State Warriors held recent discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks where they expressed their willingness to put a substantial offer on the table for the 10-time NBA All-Star, and the clock is ticking with the deadline just days away.
For years, trading for Giannis felt like pure fantasy. But ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo "is ready for a new home" and is waiting to see whether the Bucks trade him before the NBA's Feb. 5 trade deadline. This changed everything. According to ESPN, four teams looking to contend this year - the Warriors, Heat, Knicks, and Timberwolves - are among the most interested, but Golden State might have the strongest hand.
Golden State can offer up to four first-round picks in a potential trade for Antetokounmpo: 2026, 2028, 2032 unprotected, and a 2030 unprotected if it falls within the 1-20 range and one additional pick swap due to Milwaukee's outgoing picks. It's a serious package. The Bucks have expressed interest in 23-year-old Jonathan Kuminga since the summer, and 22-year-old Brandin Podziemski could also help nudge the needle. Jimmy Butler's contract, which pays him $56.8 million next season, would almost certainly be required to make the salaries match in any offer for Antetokounmpo.
Here's the catch: "I wasn't surprised as far as that coming out, but I'll be more surprised if a deal gets done by next Thursday," ESPN's Bobby Marks stated. There's a good chance Milwaukee will feel motivated to retain its star forward until the offseason. With Giannis dealing with a calf injury and the Bucks having time to explore their options, patience might pay off for Milwaukee. Still, Warriors fans can dream about pairing Draymond Green and Curry creating beautiful music out of the pick-and-roll, though a Curry-Antetokounmpo pick-and-roll would introduce an utterly devastating dimension to Golden State's 13th-ranked offense. The next week will be crucial.