The Warriors’ Final Push: Golden State’s All In Play for Giannis Antetokounmpo
The NBA’s landscape has shifted seismically. After years of speculation and a season of mounting frustration in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly placed two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on the trade market.
With the February 5 trade deadline looming and their season teetering following Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear, the Warriors face a now-or-never decision: mortgage their entire post-Curry future for a final, glorious championship run.
The War Chest: What Golden State Can Offer
The Warriors possess a unique, if imperfect, collection of assets to dangle in a potential blockbuster. Their greatest strength lies in their future draft capital, which is viewed as exceptionally valuable due to the looming end of the Curry era.
A breakdown of their primary trade assets:
| Asset Type | Key Pieces | Value & Complications |
|---|---|---|
| Tradable Contracts | Jimmy Butler ($54.1M), Draymond Green ($25.9M), Jonathan Kuminga ($22.5M), Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski. | Butler’s massive salary is key for matching but he’s injured for the season. Green is a franchise icon and Curry’s close friend. Kuminga’s value has been hampered by friction with coach Steve Kerr. |
| Draft Capital | Up to four of their own future first-round picks (2026, 2028, 2030, 2032) and swap rights. | These are considered premium assets as they could become high lottery picks in a post-Curry world. The Warriors have been extremely protective of them. |
| Young Talent | Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody. | A package of solid rotation players with some upside, but not viewed as future cornerstones. This is where other teams like OKC or Houston may have an advantage. |
The Proposed Blockbuster Deals
Analysts have constructed two primary trade frameworks for the Warriors to acquire Antetokounmpo, each with starkly different implications.
1. The “Jimmy Butler” Package: Going All-In Now
This is the most straightforward win-now move.
- Warriors Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
- Bucks Receive: Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, plus Warriors’ 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032 (swap) first-round picks.
Logic: Golden State converts an injured Butler and its entire promising young core into a top-3 player to immediately pair with Curry and Draymond Green. It sacrifices the future for a two-year window with a core of Curry (37), Green (35), and Antetokounmpo (31).
2. The “Draymond Green” Package: Punting on This Season
A more complex route that requires Stephen Curry’s blessing.
- Warriors Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr.
- Bucks Receive: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, plus the same four first-round picks.
Logic: This path acknowledges Butler’s injury by using Green’s salary as the matching centerpiece. It would effectively end the Warriors’ current season to build for 2026-27 with a theoretically healthy Butler alongside Curry and Antetokounmpo.
The Stakes and the Verdict
For Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., this is the ultimate franchise crossroads. Trading for Antetokounmpo would be a short-term masterpiece, creating arguably the most terrifying two-man offensive combination in NBA history and giving Curry a final, legitimate shot at a fifth ring.
