Giannis to Warriors, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Warriors trade
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Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks slap hands after the Warriors defeated the Bucks 104-93 at Chase Center on March 18, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
The Milwaukee Bucks are under increasing pressure to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo by the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, even as the “Greek Freak” remains sidelined indefinitely with a severe calf strain. Amid the pressure, FanDuel TV’s “Run it Back” crew has floated a Giannis to Warriors trade proposal that would see the Warriors part with five rotational players and two draft assets.
Giannis to Warriors trade framework:
Warriors would get: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Bucks would get: Draymond Green, Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, two unprotected first-round picks (2026 and 2028)
Giannis to Warriors: Feasible?
The potential Warriors trade would give Stephen Curry, who turns 38 in March, a premium co-star and a last chance to pursue his fifth NBA championship. However, such a move would also rob Golden State of most of its roster depth and its defensive anchor, Draymond Green. As such, Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams feel the move is a very risky one for the Warriors, advising the franchise against it.
“If I’m Golden State, I’m saying ‘no’ to that move,” Williams said.
“I’ve gotta figure out a way to keep Draymond. I think he’ll be the glue piece to bridge the gap between Giannis and Curry and make sure their offense is run right.”
Parsons agreed with his co-host.
“I’m all for swinging for the fences, especially if you can get Giannis, but I don’t see Golden State giving up that much,” said the retired swingman.
Could Curry Recruit Giannis to Warriors?
For what it’s worth, several insiders have suggested that the Warriors would ponder trading Green only for Antetokounmpo, and no other player in the league.
Realistically, the Bucks could get more attractive offers from other teams, especially if their goal is to receive a young franchise star to build around. As talented as Kuminga and Podziemski are, neither player has shown the ability to be a 1A option for a team. Furthermore, the 2026 and 2028 picks may not be as attractive to the Bucks since a Giannis-led Warriors team would remain competitive for the foreseeable future.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks feels the Bucks could get a significantly better haul for Antetokounmpo from teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. That said, Antetokounmpo, potentially a free agent in 2027, could have the leverage to dictate his next destination, per multiple NBA insiders. To that end, Hall of Famer Reggie Miller feels that the Warriors could pull off a Giannis trade if Stephen Curry were to contact the two-time MVP and recruit him.
“If I’m Stephen Curry, maybe I open up my Rolodex, and maybe it’s time that I called someone in the Midwest by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Miller told “The Dan Patrick Show” in the aftermath of Jimmy Butler’s season-ending injury.
“And say, ‘Look, what you’ve done in Milwaukee has been fabulous. It’s been great. You brought them a championship, their first in 50 years. But the time is now. You’re getting older. I’m certainly knocking on Father Time’s door.’”
It’s no secret that the Warriors have long coveted Antetokounmpo, and reportedly tried to make a run for him in 2023 before the Bucks landed Damian Lillard.