The Golden State Warriors’ long-time dream of pairing Stephen Curry with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo may finally be edging toward feasibility, with recent league reporting suggesting Golden State is willing to explore territory previously considered untouchable.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors’ longstanding hesitation to include both Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in the same trade framework has notably softened amid new reporting that Antetokounmpo is once again weighing his future with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Sources say Golden State has never been close to putting both Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in the same trade conversation — refusing to do so in their 2024 talks with Utah for Lauri Markkanen — just in case the chance emerged to package them both for Antetokounmpo or some other major, major fish,” Fischer wrote on The Stein Line.
The shift signals an organizational recognition that the Warriors’ championship window with Curry is finite — and the path to contention may require a seismic decision.
Draymond Green Could Be in Play in Giannis Trade Package
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo appears close to an exit from the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Golden State Warriors could offer a historic trade for him.
One of the most striking revelations from Fischer’s reporting is that Golden State is now more open to including Draymond Green — the defensive catalyst and emotional heartbeat of the Warriors dynasty — in a deal if it means landing Antetokounmpo.
“The Warriors have likewise been reluctant to consider win-now, all-in moves that would require them to trade away Draymond Green, but Antetokounmpo, in all likelihood, would change that equation,” Fischer wrote. “His availability has the power to change the calculus of damn near every front office around the league.”
Green publicly expressed reservations last year about surrendering the future for a player like Lauri Markkanen, whom he respected but did not view as the transformational piece worthy of an all-chips-in move.
“I’m a big fan of Markkanen’s game,” Green told ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “But… you usually don’t win those things against [Utah Jazz CEO] Danny Ainge. I look at history.”
Antetokounmpo, however, exists in a different tier — a Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, an international superstar whose dominance reshapes the direction of an entire franchise.
Golden State Can Offer Up to Four First-Round Picks and Seven Pick Swaps
Under current NBA trade rules, Golden State is eligible to offer as many as four first-round draft picks and up to seven pick swaps, enabling the franchise to make one of the most aggressive trade packages on record if Milwaukee decides to entertain discussions.
Combined with Kuminga, Podziemski, salary-matching veterans, and possibly Green, the Warriors possess the rare blend of immediate talent and future equity necessary to enter the front of the line should the Bucks open the door.
For a Bucks front office staring at the possibility of Antetokounmpo leaving for nothing in 2027 free agency, Golden State’s combination of young stars and draft control could represent the single strongest safety-net portfolio available.
Shams: Antetokounmpo in Conversations About Whether His Future Remains in Milwaukee
ESPN’s Shams Charania escalated speculation Wednesday when he reported that Antetokounmpo and agent Alex Saratsis have initiated formal conversations with the Bucks’ front office regarding his long-term outlook.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis have started conversations about whether his best fit is staying or elsewhere… A resolution is expected in the coming weeks,” Charania wrote on X.
The timing has not gone unnoticed in front offices around the league.
Warriors’ Dream Trade Tied to Years of Interest — and Timing
Antetokounmpo has been Golden State’s dream target for years. In May, The Athletic’s Sam Amick revealed that Giannis attended Curry’s private All-Star weekend party in San Francisco — an appearance that captured immediate attention from Warriors officials, including team owner Joe Lacob.
The two superstars also share representation at Octagon, another wrinkle adding fuel to speculation.
“His greatness could compel nearly every owner and GM in the league to adjust their plan,” Amick noted.
A Franchise-Shifting Decision Could Be Approaching
If Antetokounmpo triggers the marketplace, Golden State appears more aligned than ever to enter with one of the most aggressive offers the NBA has ever seen — the kind of deal that sacrifices the future to chase one final title push around Curry’s brilliance.
The Warriors may not have made the decision yet. But for the first time, they are no longer ruling it out.
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