The Golden State Warriors are finally coming to the brutal realization that head coach Steve Kerr may have been right when he made the now-infamous ‘fading dynasty‘ comments about the team, as, along with the struggles the franchise is facing, the latest Stephen Curry injury update, and an overall bleak future, there’s little to look forward to.
However, that all could change with one move, one trade to save the dynasty and have the Warriors ride off into the sunset in style, which involves a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
Yes, Golden State tried and failed at the trade deadline to land Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, but that doesn’t mean they, along with a number of other teams, won’t try this offseason again.
With the latest Antetokounmpo injury update signaling a return for the Bucks after a lengthy absence from a calf strain, why not look back on what the Warriors can offer Milwaukee to pair the 2021 Finals MVP with Curry? It won’t come cheap, but no NBA championship ever has.
Blockbuster Warriors Trade Mortgages Future For Giannis Antetokounmpo
Writing for Bleacher Report, Andy Bailey offered trade ideas that NBA teams wish they could make now. While the Warriors obviously can’t make an Antetokounmpo trade in early March, it doesn’t mean the following isn’t possible this summer.
Here’s his trade idea:
Golden State Warriors get: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks get: Jimmy Butler, first-round picks in 2027, 2029, and 2031, and first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032
Though Butler is out with a torn ACL, his contract perfectly matches up with Antetokounmpo, making him the best asset the Warriors could move. While the Bucks might want some other players in return, the sheer amount of picks that could come after the Curry-Antetokounmpo era ends could be enticing enough.
“But getting three unencumbered first-round picks and the chance to move up in four other drafts between now and 2032 is good value for Giannis,” Bailey wrote. “The Bucks could justify starting over, and those picks and swaps after 2030 could be extremely valuable. Stephen Curry will be retired, and Giannis will be post-prime. The next face of the franchise could be in one of those drafts.”
Regardless of what Milwaukee does with Butler, they’ll have Golden State’s uncertain future in the palm of their hand. Without Antetokounmpo, they’d start a rebuild regardless, meaning Butler isn’t what’s important in this trade idea; it’s the picks.
“And this is one of those trades that could grow in the future if Milwaukee could move Jimmy Butler during the last year of his contract,” Bailey added. “For Golden State, it’s risky to give up control of your draft that far into the future. It’s extremely risky.”
While the Bucks would have the upper hand in a deal like this, it is a risky move for the Warriors. However, the chance to pair Curry with Antetokounmpo for just a few years, as risky as it might be, feels like a worthwhile move for Golden State at this point in the team’s history.
Why This Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Isn’t As Wild As It Might Seem
There are two reasons why this trade for Golden State isn’t as outrageous as the amount of picks involved originally made it seem.
The first is simple: Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos.
The two young players have shown out recently, and when the Curry-Antetokounmpo era ends, the Warriors will have at least a few rising stars that could give them hope for future success down the line. Santos already signed a contract extension with Golden State, and while Podziemski might garner a bit more money, the two have shown to have high upside and potential.
The Warriors have signed Gui Santos to a multi-year contract extension.
Pat Spencer, Moses Moody, Quinten Post, and a few others made up the rest of the Warriors’ young-ish core. It’s not the best in the NBA, but it’s better than a lot of other teams, and could set the Bay Area franchise up for success after the potential Curry and Antetokounmpo experiment ends.
The second is also simple. If trading all the team’s draft picks gives the Warriors a better chance to win a fifth title with Curry, while adding an early-30s Antetokounmpo, that’s well worth the risk.
There are double-digit teams in the NBA that have never won a title, let alone even made the Finals. Golden State has ended as champions for times since 2015, and having the chance to win a fifth feels worth it if it means a few years struggling at the bottom of the West.
The Curry era is going to end at some point, and every single season, like this one, that Golden State isn’t competing for a championship feels like a waste. Simply: do whatever it takes to win while you have the chance, because without Curry, any title hopes with the rest of this roster can be ruled out.
“When you don’t have Jimmy Butler or Steph Curry in the lineup…you don’t see anybody that can hold the weight of that lineup. Especially on the offensive end.” – @TeamLou23 @MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons
An Antetokounmpo trade doesn’t guarantee a championship or fix the Warriors’ issues, but it at least gives them a chance to put a band-aid on a wound that’s going to become a bigger concern down the line anyway.
Warriors Empty The Clip In Dynasty-Saving Curry-Giannis Pairing Trade Idea