Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is the name to watch at the trade deadline, and the Golden State Warriors are likely the team to watch.
The Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline is nearing, and one of the biggest names the basketball world is watching is Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The door that was previously not thought to be open has finally creaked a bit, leading to a major push for contenders to swoop up the superstar. A team to watch in their pursuit is the Golden State Warriors, who have reportedly been targeting “the same dream name” for almost a decade, according to ESPN.
When Jimmy Butler went down with an ACL tear, it completely altered the reality of contending this season. That may have paused an aggressive push at the deadline, but that all changes when it’s a star like Antetokounmpo. Sources tell ESPN that there’s a feeling around the team that every player is on the table outside star guard Steph Curry, who the move would be for. That includes longtime Warrior Draymond Green, who has been with the team for 14 years. He downplayed any concerns Friday night, but his $25.8 million salary for this season may require a move to absorb Antetokounmpo’s $54.1 million salary hit.
Here is the full story from Warriors Roundtable writer Jeremy Lambert on a potential package for Golden State to snag an elite star.
Green is on the table, alongside injured forward Butler, who stands to make $54.1 million this year as well. With Jonathan Kuminga voicing a desire to be on the trade block, his $22.5 million salary could be moved as well. The first question for Golden State is how many more years they have of Curry in his prime, and in his championship window. If that goes past this season, they may pause. But the 37-year-old Curry is running out of time, and Golden State may not get another opportunity to add a player of the caliber of Antetokounmpo in that waning window.