Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors
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Giannis Antetokounmpo with Stephen Curry
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo may have unintentionally reopened the door for a blockbuster trade scenario — one that could reshape the Golden State Warriors’ season in the wake of Jimmy Butler’s devastating injury.
After the Bucks edged the Atlanta Hawks 112–110 on Tuesday to snap a three-game losing streak, Antetokounmpo was asked how confident he was about finishing the season in Milwaukee. His response was anything but definitive.
“I don’t know,” Antetokounmpo said. “I take it day by day.”
In a league hyper-sensitive to timing and tone, the comment immediately reverberated well beyond Milwaukee — particularly in Golden State, where the Warriors are suddenly searching for a path forward after losing Butler to a season-ending ACL tear.
ESPN Insider: League Bracing for Possible Giannis-Bucks Separation
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Antetokounmpo’s vague comments reflect a broader belief around the NBA that the Bucks’ partnership with their franchise cornerstone may be nearing its end.
“It’s almost like a couple that everybody in the league thinks is going to get divorced,” Windhorst said Wednesday on NBA Today. “They don’t know if it’s going to be by Easter or by July 4, but in the league, teams do believe this is going to be a divorce.”
Windhorst added that while the Bucks are not currently taking inbound calls on Antetokounmpo, rival teams are positioning themselves in anticipation of a potential shift.
“To my knowledge, the Bucks are still not taking phone calls on Giannis — they’re only making outgoing calls,” Windhorst said. “Having said that, teams are poised thinking this could end up being a separation at some point.”
Milwaukee’s on-court struggles have only intensified the speculation. The Bucks sit at 18–24, barely clinging to playoff relevance and trailing Atlanta for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
Warriors Lose Momentum After Butler’s Season-Ending Injury
The Warriors’ interest is fueled by necessity as much as ambition.
Golden State saw its recent momentum evaporate after Butler suffered a season-ending ACL tear, a blow that snapped a four-game winning streak in a 145–127 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Butler’s two-way impact had stabilized the Warriors, and his absence has left a gaping void on the wing.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has publicly ruled out trading Butler under normal circumstances.
“I don’t envision that,” Dunleavy said when asked about moving Butler. “My vision for him is to give us a boost next year the same way he did last year when he arrived.”
Before the injury, Butler was still playing at an elite level. In January, the 36-year-old averaged 21.3 points per game on 53 percent shooting and scored 17 points in just 21 minutes against Miami before going down.
According to Jeff Stott of InStreetClothes, Butler is the second-oldest NBA player to tear an ACL since the 2005–06 season, underscoring the severity of the setback.
Giannis Trade Would Change Warriors’ Calculus
Yet Antetokounmpo represents a different tier of opportunity.
If the Bucks’ stance were to change, the Warriors would be compelled to pivot. Butler’s $54 million salary — with an expiring $56.8 million contract next season — could become necessary salary ballast in a Giannis deal, paired with Golden State’s extensive draft assets.
The Warriors can trade up to four future first-round picks, giving them one of the league’s strongest trade packages should a true superstar become available.
“If we’re talking about trading draft picks that will be going out when Steph isn’t here,” Dunleavy said, “it’s going to have to be a player that we think will be here when those picks are going out.”
Antetokounmpo Fits Warriors’ Present and Future
At 31, Antetokounmpo checks every box. He would instantly vault Golden State back into championship contention alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green while also providing a bridge into the post-Curry era.
More importantly, his prime aligns with a long-term vision rather than a short-term patch.
For now, the Bucks insist nothing has changed. But as Windhorst noted, perception around the league often precedes reality.
And for a Warriors franchise suddenly staring at a lost season, Antetokounmpo’s two-word answer — “I don’t know” — may have quietly reignited their boldest hope yet.