The Golden State Warriors are reportedly making a “compelling pitch” to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, multiple sources told Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area & California.
Warriors Showing Sincere Interest In Giannis
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Antetokounmpo has been preparing for a new home either this season by next Thursday’s trade deadline or over the summer.
Sources told ESPN that Giannis has informed the Bucks for months that “he believes the moment has come to part ways” after spending the last 12-plus years together.
League sources told Poole that Golden State is among as many as six teams “showing sincere interest” in Antetokounmpo, with three or four – including the Warriors – “vigorously competing among each other.”
Charania previously reported that the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Warriors “are among the serious suitors” for Antetokounmpo.
“The Bucks don’t have to do anything before the deadline,” one league source said Thursday. “Now it could get uncomfortable if they keep Giannis for the rest of the season when everybody knows he wants out. That’s an option if they don’t like what’s offered.
“But any team that makes a deal with them will have to give up a lot. A whole lot.”
Stephen Curry Is The Only Untouchable
But what does this latest report mean?
It could be an indicator that Golden State is prepared to go all-in to add Giannis, and Poole also added that “the general assumption is that [Stephen] Curry is, of course, the only untouchable.”
This news suggests that players like Seth Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, and maybe even Draymond Green could be included in an outgoing package to acquire Giannis.
Maybe the Warriors could also move Jonathan Kuminga, who demanded a trade on Jan. 15 and has recently been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Despite Butler’s injury, Kuminga reportedly still wants a trade out of the Bay Area, per NBA insider Chris Haynes.
“Kuminga has no desire to remain a member of the Golden State Warriors,” Haynes said. “I’m told that his relationship with head coach Steve Kerr is fractured beyond repair. He’s felt that he hasn’t had any organizational support throughout this process. So, he’s felt devalued with the organization.”
Golden State Will Not Trade Jimmy Butler?
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters on Jan. 20 that he will not be trading Butler before the Feb. 5 deadline, despite Butler’s torn ACL and the team’s ongoing struggles.
“I don’t envision that,” Dunleavy said when asked about moving Butler. “Now that you’ve brought it up, I’d say my vision for him is to give us a boost next year the same way he did last year when he arrived.
“At his age, to have the year he’s had is impressive. I think he’s got a style of game that can play for a long time with his skill, his physicality, his mind for the game. So, I guess my vision for him is him returning at some point between now and this time next year.”
However, Dunleavy made those comments a day before Charania’s report about Giannis.
The Dubs now have an incredible opportunity to give Curry a superstar teammate and boost their championship odds. They have to jump on it.
A lot is up in the air for the Warriors after a disappointing first half to their 2025-26 season. Golden State currently sits eighth in the Western Conference standings at 27-23.
