The Golden State Warriors are faced with the brutal reality that, after Jimmy Butler’s ACL injury, they are in fact a ‘fading dynasty’, as head coach Steve Kerr pointed out before, but even still, that shouldn’t rule them out from making one more shot at a massive trade to give franchise star Stephen Curry the chance at winning one more championship with the team.
The Warriors working around the edges remains unlikely, as it isn’t expected that they will trade Butler. Jonathan Kuminga remains a different case, as the idea of the team trading him, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and a few draft assets is still on the table, but only for a big-name player, in particular.
Writing for ClutchPoints, NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that, if available, Giannis Antetokounmpo would be the only player the Warriors are willing to overhaul their roster for.
“Should Giannis request a trade from the Bucks, Warriors owner Joe Lacob will do whatever it takes to try and put his organization at the front of the line for the two-time MVP, multiple sources told ClutchPoints,” the insider wrote. “He is the one player the Dubs would be willing to move any of their assets for before this year’s trade deadline.”
Antetokounmpo previously stated he has no current plans of asking for a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks, but with their recent poor form, injuries, and his calling out his own teammates, the idea of him being moved in the next two weeks before the trade deadline seems to be growing.
Warriors Trade Rumors With Giannis Antetokounmpo
Golden State has been linked to Antetokounmpo throughout this current trade cycle, but the idea of the Greek Freak playing with Curry has likely been in the minds of the front office since the latter threw a bounce-pass alley-oop to the 2021 Finals MVP in an All-Star game years ago.
The Warriors appear to be out on a trade for Michael Porter Jr. as well as Anthony Davis, and with the new restrictions they have with Butler out for the foreseeable future, trading for either of them, or anyone else besides Antetokounmpo, would likely be a futile effort considering their poor first half of the season.
Additionally, general manager Mike Dunleavy has made it clear that the franchise doesn’t plan on giving up any of its assets for a player who isn’t going to drastically turn things around. Despite the trade rumors between the Warriors and Trey Murphy or DeMar DeRozan (or anyone else on the Sacramento Kings), they also seem to be out of contention to join the Bay Area team.
All that is left is Antetokounmpo.
Despite what he might say about his future with the Bucks, his consistent commitment to wanting to play winning basketball might overshadow how he feels he’ll be viewed by the team, city, or fanbase.
“That writing has been on the wall since the whole Damian Lillard stuff because Giannis and his people know the Bucks are stuck,” a West executive told Siegel. “There’s nothing they can do right now to get back to where they were in 2021.”
Though the idea of the Warriors trading Butler or Draymond Green feels out of reach, sending Kuminga and a bunch of assets also feels unlikely, especially before the deadline. If they can manage a blockbuster package for Antetokounmpo, Golden State will do it, but waiting to make a bigger push this summer feels more realistic.
Jonathan Kuminga Linked To Lakers In Trade Rumors, Could LeBron James Join Golden State?
Regardless of what the future holds in the sense of who the Warriors can and want to add to pair with Curry, Kuminga remains the bigger issue, as after nearly a week following his official trade demand, he is still on the roster.
Shams Charania and Anthony Slater wrote the Kings and Dallas Mavericks remain interested, but it has also been reported that the Los Angeles Lakers are keen on adding the 23-year-old wing.
At the same time, the rift between LeBron James and the Lakers appears to be growing, especially after Baxter Holmes’ recent deep dive on the Buss family drama. But in that sense, the Warriors did make a push to add James at a previous trade deadline, and while a previously laughable report based on their battles in the NBA Finals, according to Siegel, it isn’t the craziest idea in the world, whether it be sending Kuminga and assets to Los Angeles for James, or another deal involving the two teams.
“As for LeBron, pairing him with Curry to end their careers has been something Golden State has recently explored,” he wrote. “With tensions rising in Los Angeles and James appearing to be on his way out from the Lakers this upcoming offseason, maybe he and his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, would seriously consider waiving their no-trade clause to go to the Warriors.”
Siegel added that this remains an unlikely scenario, however, one that can’t be ruled out.
Regardless of what the team does with Kuminga, Curry remains a powerful figure that players around the league are keen on teaming up with.
Antetokounmpo appears to remain the grand prize, with James a potential consolation.
But still, however the Curry-Warriors dynasty comes to a close, it doesn’t look like it end without a fight.
Warriors Make Massive Decision On Giannis Trade Rumors, LeBron Future: Report