The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade war has entered its early phases, as the superstar player has made clear implications that he is prepared to move on from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Any deal is most likely to occur during the coming offseason, as it is far more difficult to pull of blockbuster trades during the year for a multitude of reasons. That said, a move before the early February deadline remains a possibility, and NBA insiders are doing the work of consolidating several candidates’ assets on paper and formulating likely packages coming the Bucks’ way.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line did that very thing for multiple franchises on Thursday, including the Golden State Warriors, who have engaged in a long-term, long-distance flirtation with Antetokounmpo for years.
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“Sources say Golden State, furthermore, has never been close to this point to putting both Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in the same trade conversation — refusing to do so in their June (and July) 2024 talks with Utah for Lauri Markkanen — just in case the chance emerged to package them both for Antetokounmpo or some other major, major fish,” Fischer wrote.
“The Warriors have likewise been reluctant to consider win-now, all-in moves that would require them to trade away Draymond Green, but Antetokounmpo in all likelihood would change that equation for Golden State’s brass.”
Green would be a necessity in the deal from a financial standpoint, as his 2025 salary combined with those of Kuminga and Podziemski would total within a couple million of Antetokounmpo’s and allow the money to matchup.
The Warriors would also unquestionably have to throw in all of their available first-round draft assets, which include four first-round picks and three first-round swaps across the next seven seasons, per Bobby Marks of ESPN.
At this point, Golden State has long abandoned its two-timeline strategy, and going all-in on a potential championship trio of Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler makes the most sense as dusk begins to take a firm hold over the dynasty by the Bay.
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