Trade rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have been circulating all summer.
Since the Bucks’ first-round exit to the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee has bent over backwards trying to keep their two-time MVP happy.
They replaced Brook Lopez with Myles Turner, signed Cole Anthony to a free agent deal, and even signed two of Antetokounmpo’s brothers, Thanasis and Alex, to the team.
Despite this, the former Finals MVP has still been predicted to leave Milwaukee at some point, and the Golden State Warriors have been recognized as a potential landing spot for the Greek Freak’s services.
However, on a recent episode of Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, ESPN Warriors insider Anthony Slater pumped the brakes on a potential Antetokounmpo trade.
“They poured cold water on the idea that they were some hot Giannis destination,” Slater told Windhorst.
“But I will also say that they were kind of pouring cold water on the Jimmy Butler idea around this time last year.
Giannis Isn’t Going Anywhere… For Now
While the trade buzz surrounding one of the top basketball players in the game is an exciting thought exercise, Antetokounmpo isn’t going anywhere.
At least for the time being.
At Milwaukee Bucks media day, Antetokounmpo downplayed trade speculation, even though Shams Charania had just reported about his interest in joining the New York Knicks just days earlier.
“It’s temptation. When you go through the amusement park or you go outside, and you’re not wearing your wedding ring, like me now, and people are looking at you like, ‘Oh, he’s kind of handsome.’ It’s temptation. And that starts when the season ends until the season begins,” Antetokounmpo told the press.
“There’s a lot of people who are going to approach me or my agents, and then say, ‘Hey, this is a possibility or that’s a possibility.’ But at the end of the day, ultimately, I’m going to make a decision. My decision today is that I’m here, and I’m committed to this team.”
While the Greek forward is likely to remain in Milwaukee throughout the 2025-26 season, the real intrigue begins next summer.
Antetokounmpo becomes extension-eligible next offseason as he enters the final year of his current contract.
He can then force the Bucks to trade him to a destination of his choosing, with the threat of leaving in free agency as his main bargaining chip.
Would the Warriors Have What It Takes to Create a Giannis Trade Package?
The Golden State Warriors have exhausted a lot of resources in recent years trying to build a contender around legendary point guard Steph Curry.
But they could still probably put together a solid trade package to land the likes of Antetokounmpo.
They currently have control of all of their first-round picks until 2031, allowing them to bundle those draft selections into quite a formidable haul.
What they may struggle to supply the Milwaukee Bucks with is prospects, as outside of Jonathan Kuminga, there aren’t many players with intriguing upside to offer.
The Warriors’ best bet would be to hope that Antetokounmpo demands a trade directly to Golden State, limiting his potential suitors and driving teams away that won’t get assurance on a future contract extension.
Of course, at this time next year Curry will be 38. Jimmy Butler will be 37, and Draymond Green will be 36.
Will the Warriors really exhaust every last bit of their resources to acquire a superstar to pair up with their aging veterans?
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Warriors Insider ‘Pours Cold Water’ on Potential Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade appeared first on Heavy Sports.