Giannis Crushes Warriors Dream Trade With Shocking Choice

The Golden State Warriors’ long-standing dream of pairing Stephen Curry with Giannis Antetokounmpo appears all but over.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the New York Knicks — not the Warriors — have emerged as the only preferred landing spot for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar, should he ever request a trade.

Knicks Were Giannis’ Only Preferred Destination

Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and his representatives at Octagon quietly evaluated outside options this offseason, identifying New York as the only team he would consider outside of Milwaukee.

“Ever since the NBA draft combine in mid-May, Alex Saratsis, an Octagon managing director and Antetokounmpo’s U.S.-based representative, has fielded rampant interest in Antetokounmpo and conducted serious due diligence on best possible outside fits should the star and his reps push to be traded from the Bucks,” Charania wrote. “Several teams were discussed internally, but one emerged as the only place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee: the New York Knicks.”

Talks Between Bucks and Knicks Never Gained Traction

Both the Bucks and Knicks reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions this summer, but the talks never progressed beyond an exploratory phase.

“The Bucks insisted to the Knicks that they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo,” Charania added. “Those in Milwaukee believe New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade.”

The discussions, described as an “exclusive negotiating window,” fizzled without a concrete proposal. The Knicks, on their end, believed the Bucks were never truly open to entertaining a trade.

While the trade never materialized, the door could reopen next summer depending on both teams’ performances and Antetokounmpo’s satisfaction in Milwaukee.

Why the Warriors Are Out

The Warriors, once thought to be an intriguing potential suitor, now appear to be out of the picture.

Despite having more draft capital than New York — including up to four first-round picks and seven pick swaps — Golden State’s aging core and financial structure make a blockbuster trade for Antetokounmpo highly unlikely.

Even if a deal were somehow reached, a Curry-Antetokounmpo pairing would gut the Warriors’ supporting cast and limit their ability to compete with Western Conference contenders such as the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry talk after a game. 

For years, Golden State has been quietly linked to Antetokounmpo. The Athletic’s Sam Amick previously reported that internal interest in Giannis dates back to the height of the Warriors’ dynasty.

That speculation reignited briefly last February when Antetokounmpo made a surprise late-night appearance at Stephen Curry’s All-Star Weekend party in San Francisco — an event attended by Warriors owner Joe Lacob, forward Draymond Green and former center Kevon Looney.

“Antetokounmpo, who has been known to be a dream target of the Warriors for a long time, made a late-night appearance at Curry’s party,” Amick wrote in May. “Warriors officials on hand took gleeful notice — including Lacob.”

Loyalty Wins, for Now

Amick also noted that both Curry and Antetokounmpo are represented by Octagon, a global agency with deep ties to international basketball. But despite that connection and years of quiet speculation, Antetokounmpo’s loyalty to Milwaukee — and his preference for New York as the lone outside option — have effectively ended any realistic hope of a Bay Area partnership.

For now, the two-time MVP remains committed to chasing another championship in Milwaukee. But if Antetokounmpo ever decides to move on, it won’t be to join Curry in Golden State.

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