The Warriors are now open and will explore a potential Jimmy Butler trade in hopes of acquiring the Bucks superstar.
The Golden State Warriors are locked in and ready to push the button to win the Giannis Antetokounmpo derby. And if necessary, they are finally willing to sacrifice Jimmy Butler for the Greek superstar.
In his latest Bleacher Report news, NBA insider Jake Fischer revealed that the Dubs are now set in findings ways to trade Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
"We wrote that the Golden State Warriors have no interest in trading Jimmy Butler for Anthony Davis after he tore his ACL. We wrote that the Warriors have basically assured Jimmy Butler they are not going to explore his trade market, so long as Giannis didn’t ask out and make it official that he wants to leave. We’re in that situation right now," Fischer wrote.
"So until February 5th at 3 p.m. Eastern, when that buzzer sounds and Giannis is not a Golden State Warrior, I’m going to believe—and have been told—that the Warriors are going to explore ways to turn Jimmy Butler and his contract, after he tore his ACL and is out for the foreseeable future, into Giannis Antetokounmpo."
Following the season-ending ACL injury of Butler, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy notably declared that he has no plans to move Butler.
But after the recent announcement that Giannis is now looking for his next stop, Golden State can't be any quicker now to reconsider their commitment to Butler.
Instead of waiting for Butler to return at least until next year, which poses risks and uncertainty because of the nature of his ACL tear at age 36, it would definitely be better for the Warriors to pursue Antetokounmpo.
With the tandem of Curry and Antetokounmpo, the Warriors are even more formidable as a championship heavyweight.
Further added by Fischer, the Bucks have expressed interest in Jonathan Kuminga from the past, which might play a key element for the Warriors in landing Giannis.
"There’s definitely been some level of interest from Milwaukee in Jonathan Kuminga in the past, so what else would that mean in terms of money going back, because Jimmy Butler and Giannis are essentially a straight salary match, meaning more money would have to come from the Bucks," Fischer noted. "The Golden State Warriors have had their eye on Giannis for years. He’s always been the gold standard of what their ultimate pairing would have been, not Jimmy Butler.
"They tried to get Kevin Durant a year ago as well. They’ve always been looking at upper-echelon superstars to pair with Steph ever since Kevin Durant left in 2019 free agency. Giannis has been at the top of their list."
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