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The Golden State Warriors remain uncertain of a Jonathan Kuminga trade, all while adding Giannis Antetokounmpo only grows more difficult.
The Golden State Warriors are at amajor turning point in the history of their franchise. In Stephen Curry’s final few seasons, they don’t appear to be well-positioned to compete for a championship in their current form, especially following Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear.
There is stillthe major question markofJonathan Kuminga and a potential trademoving him before the February 5th deadline, but until anything happens on that front, they remain out of reach for any potential title hopes.
Yetstill, the possibility of trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo has been loomingfor Golden Stateover the past few months. The team moving mountains to add the 2021 Finals MVP has always been a long shot, but never considered out of reach. A new report signals that a trade for the superstar could be tougher than previously thought.
Writing for ESPN, Bobby Marks outlined that, for the Warriors, like so many other teams, the idea of trading for Antetokounmpo isn’t as simple as it might seem, especially with the restrictions they’ve placed on themselves, and the players they’d potentially be willing to part ways with to add him.
Warriors Giannis Trade Rumors Update
The future of Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks appears to be coming to an end, and while that might signal good news for Golden State, the possibility of them offering up a blockbuster package for him remains a difficult task.
The team has made it clear that they don’t plan on trading the contracts of Butler or Draymond Green to make another massive move to pair someone with Curry, but with that, their hopes of a fifth title since 2015 might not be out of reach.If they do give in and decide cutting ties with one of those two is in their best interest, that changes things. But for now, both of them staying on the team can rule out the Warriors as title contenders going forward.
“The Warriors can trade up to four first-round picks, but putting together $54 million in salary and not including the injuredJimmy Butler III could be an issue,” Marks wrote. “If Butler is off the board, Golden State is left with the contracts ofDraymond Green andJonathan Kuminga and a combination ofMoses Moody,Brandin Podziemski andBuddy Hield. The Warriors are $264,000 below the second apron and would need to have flexibility to fill out their roster and remain under the apron.”
Despite Green’s relatively poor form this season, it is hard to see them trading him, even for a player like Antetokounmpo, considering his importance to the franchise over the past decade-plus. The assets of Kuminga, their other rotational players, and their picks might not be enough to land the superstar in Milwaukee.
Their only chance in a package of those players and assets getting the job done would be if Antetokounmpo asks tobe moved to Golden State, but even then, matching contracts without using Butler or Green would likely force Golden State to massacre their roster just for the Greek forward.
The Warriors haven’t been afraid to take risks in trades or offseason additions, and like in the case of the Los Angeles Lakers, waiting until the summer to muster up an offer for Antetokounmpo might be their best shot, regardless of how bleak things look right now.
Jonathan Kuminga Trade Rumors, Warriors Top Targets
Besides the looming idea of the Warriors trading for Antetokounmpo, Kuminga remains another massive unsolved issue. The front office has very little time to finally come up with a trade for the 23-year-old, and while teams have shown interest in the wing, the Butler injury has majorly complicated things.
Golden State hasn’t ruled out keeping Kuminga past the deadline, and though he’sbeen linked to the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, and others, his month-long stint sitting on the bench didn’t do the Bay Area team any favors, as it relates to his trade value.
The Warriors havehad reported interest in players like Trey Murphy, Andrew Wiggins, Michael Porter Jr., and a few others,but if any of them become available before February 5th, each wouldalso have a relatively high price tag, especially consideringhow desperate Golden Stateappears to be right now.
But as of late-January, the Bay Area team has yet to decide on Kuminga’s future, even after he demanded a trade. The clock is ticking on their ability to upgrade this roster and the time left they have with Curry.As the daysgo on, the desperation rises, and whether that be related to a trade for Antetokounmpo or anyone else, Kerr’s comments about the franchise being a ‘fading dynasty’ only ring more and more true.