The Golden State Warriors’ long-held dream of pairing Stephen Curry with another international superstar may never materialize.
NBA insider Jake Fischer said this weekend that Golden State does not have the assets to realistically trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Bucks forward ever hits the trade market.
“At this point in time, I don’t really see how Golden State has the salary, has the players, has the draft capital to compete — especially for Giannis if he were to hit the open market as a trade candidate,” Fischer said in his Bleacher Report’s Insider Notebook.
Antetokounmpo Adds Fuel to Ongoing Trade Speculation
Antetokounmpo reignited speculation about his future in Milwaukee after confirming an offseason report from ESPN’s Shams Charania that he has considered leaving if the Bucks can no longer contend.
“It’s a disservice to basketball and to the game to not want to compete at a high level, to want your season to end in April,” Antetokounmpo said during the Bucks’ media day. “It’s not the first time. I had the same thoughts last year. I had the same thoughts two years ago.”
The tension grew when Antetokounmpo later contradicted Bucks owner Wes Edens, who told reporters that the star forward had reaffirmed his commitment to Milwaukee in a June meeting.
“I cannot recall that meeting,” Antetokounmpo said.
The 30-year-old Greek star is entering his 12th NBA season with the Bucks and remains under contract through 2026, with a player option for the 2026–27 campaign.
Warriors’ Longtime Giannis Dream
For years, the Warriors have been quietly linked to Antetokounmpo. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the idea dates back to the height of Golden State’s dynasty.
That speculation briefly reignited in February when Antetokounmpo made a surprise late-night appearance at Stephen Curry’s party in San Francisco during All-Star Weekend — an event attended by Warriors owner Joe Lacob, forward Draymond Green and former center Kevon Looney.
“Antetokounmpo, who has been known to be a dream target of the Warriors for a long time, made a late-night appearance at Curry’s party in San Francisco,” Amick wrote in May. “Warriors officials on hand took gleeful notice — including Lacob.”
Amick also noted that both Curry and Antetokounmpo are represented by Octagon, a sports agency with deep international basketball ties.
Financial Roadblocks Ahead
Despite those connections, Fischer believes the Warriors’ chances are slim. The team’s lack of salary-matching flexibility makes an Antetokounmpo trade highly improbable.
Golden State can offer up to four first-round picks and seven pick swaps under current NBA trade rules. However, even after re-signing Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year, $48.5 million deal, matching Giannis’ salary would likely require including Jimmy Butler or a package involving Green, Kuminga, and another contract.
But it’s more complicated than just cobbling together salaries. ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported another wrinkle.
“The Warriors are now hard-capped at the second apron — they are $2 million below — and not allowed to take back more salary in a trade and aggregate contracts if it leaves them over the second apron,” Marks wrote.
Earlier this summer, the Warriors rejected a trade proposal from the Sacramento Kings that would have sent Malik Monk and a protected 2030 first-round pick to Golden State for Kuminga — a move that signaled the team’s commitment to preserving long-term cap flexibility.
According to Amick, the Warriors’ front office remains focused on maintaining space for the 2027 free-agent class, which could feature multiple superstars — including Antetokounmpo — if they opt out of their current deals.
Reality Check for Golden State
While the Warriors are preparing for all eventualities, their 2027 plans already took a hit when Nikola Jokić declared at the start of Denver’s training camp that he intends to remain with the Nuggets “forever.”
That pledge, combined with the challenges of an Antetokounmpo trade, means Golden State’s next big move will likely have to come from within — not through another superstar trade.
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