Maximizing the final years of Stephen Curry‘s career has been the Golden State Warriors‘ North Star in recent years. Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Joe Lacob are doing everything they can to ensure the superstar guard can continue challenging for a fifth championship.
With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has proposed a three-team trade that would likely position Golden State as championship favorites for years to come. The proposed trade looks like this:
Golden State Warriors get: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Detroit Pistons get: Jimmy Butler and a 2030 second-round pick (from GSW)
Milwaukee Bucks get: Jaden Ivey, Brandin Podziemski, Isaiah Stewart, Tobias Harris, a 2026 first-round pick (from GSW), a 2027 first-round pick swap (from GSW), a 2028 first-round pick (from GSW), a 2031 first-round pick swap (from GSW) and a 2032 first-round pick (from GSW)
“There aren’t many scenarios in which Golden State would be willing to part with Jimmy Butler, but this is absolutely on that short list,” Buckley wrote. “Bring Antetokounmpo to the Bay, and the Warriors would both ensure they’ll be in the championship chase for however many years Stephen Curry has left and give themselves a foundational support for the (early) post-Curry years.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP. He’s a top-five talent in the NBA. And, most importantly, he’s hungry for continued success, which would ensure he’s a strong fit within Golden State’s locker room.
Giannis And Curry Have A “Good Relationship.”
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Giannis and Curry have a “good relationship.” Therefore, it’s fair to assume the pair could figure out how to maximize each other’s elite-level skill sets.
“Good relationship, friendly,” Amick said. “Steph has the same agency as Giannis, but that’s not the type of smoke you might have thought, as far as, you know, that being something that was kind of percolating in the background. New York is the only one right now for me where it’s really clear that Giannis does have interest there.”
If Giannis did become available on the trade market, the Warriors would likely face stiff competition from the New York Knicks, who are rumored to be Giannis’ preferred destination.
Warriors Urged To Target Giannis Via Trade
In a recent episode of “The Herd,” Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd shared his belief that Golden State should do everything in its power to bring Giannis to the Bay Area.
“I would trade Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, and four first-round picks for Giannis and see if it’s enough,” Cowherd said. “…Steve Kerr’s too smart to think that, yeah, these old guys— I don’t buy it. I think Warriors tickets are expensive; as long as Steph’s around, they’re fun. The West is young, athletic on the wing, great rim protectors everywhere.”
Giannis is highly unlikely to move teams during the season. Therefore, the earliest Golden State, or any team, could begin pushing for a deal would be next summer. Even then, Milwaukee would likely welcome a bidding war. At that point, there’s no guarantee the Warriors would have the best trade package.
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