Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Warriors
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Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors talks to Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Golden State Warriors are leaving little to interpretation in their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Golden State has already communicated firm interest to the Milwaukee Bucks — even before reports surfaced that the Bucks had begun listening to trade offers for their franchise cornerstone.
“League sources told ESPN that the Warriors have contacted the Bucks in the past week and expressed their firm interest in Antetokounmpo and their willingness to put a substantial offer on the table regardless of his calf strain and undetermined return timetable,” Slater reported Thursday.
The outreach underscores how aggressively the Warriors are operating as they seek to maximize the remaining championship window around Stephen Curry, who will turn 38 in March.
Bucks Open Door, Set Steep Giannis Trade Price
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Milwaukee has grown more open to Antetokounmpo trade discussions, though the organization remains deliberate and patient.
“Multiple teams have received a sense that the Bucks are more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline,” Charania wrote. “However, Milwaukee has indicated to interested teams that the organization is not in a rush to complete a move and is willing to navigate Antetokounmpo’s future in the offseason if its believed price point of a blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks isn’t met.”
That threshold immediately narrows the field — and places Golden State among the teams structurally capable of engaging.
Warriors’ Asset Base Fits Milwaukee’s Criteria
The Warriors control up to four future first-round picks, including three selections that would fall in the post-Curry era — widely viewed around the league as premium assets due to the uncertainty surrounding Golden State’s long-term trajectory.
In addition to draft capital, the Warriors possess Jonathan Kuminga, a former lottery pick whose age, upside and contract profile fit the “blue-chip young talent” Milwaukee is believed to be seeking in any deal involving Antetokounmpo.
That combination gives Golden State one of the more straightforward trade paths among contenders.
Butler, Kuminga Central to Exploratory Framework
Speaking Tuesday on NBA on NBC, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reported that Golden State’s exploratory framework could include not only Antetokounmpo, but also Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr., as part of a structure designed to satisfy salary requirements and improve roster balance.
“Golden State continues to be aggressive in looking to find upgrades before the trade deadline,” Mannix said. “There’s no indication yet that Milwaukee is willing to deal Giannis. Most likely, the Bucks are not going to deal him before the deadline. But from what I’m told, the Warriors have made it known that if Milwaukee gets serious about trading Giannis, they’re ready to make an offer.”
Mannix said the proposed package would center on Jimmy Butler’s expiring contract and Kuminga, with Portis included to help make the money work. Significant draft compensation would also be required to meet Milwaukee’s demands.
“That’s out there,” Mannix added. “If Giannis becomes available, that’s something Golden State could push.”
Butler’s Status Shifts With Giannis Availability
Butler, 36, is owed nearly $57 million next season, making his contract a necessary salary-matching component in any Antetokounmpo deal. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has publicly downplayed the idea of moving the six-time All-Star.
“I don’t envision that,” Dunleavy said when asked earlier this month about trading Butler. “My vision for him is to give us a boost next year, the same way he did last year when he arrived.”
Before suffering a season-ending ACL tear, Butler was still producing at a high level. In January, he averaged 21.3 points per game on 53% shooting and scored 17 points in just 21 minutes against Miami before the injury.
However, league dynamics can shift quickly.
Giannis’ Contract Timeline Raises Stakes
Antetokounmpo, 31, becomes eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million supermax extension on Oct. 1. If no extension is reached, he could become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 by declining a $62.8 million player option.
That timeline provides Milwaukee leverage — but also clarity for teams willing to act decisively.
For Golden State, the calculus has changed.
The Warriors have long monitored Antetokounmpo as a dream acquisition. With Milwaukee now listening and Golden State already signaling readiness, the franchise has positioned itself squarely in the center of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market.
Whether the Bucks move now or wait until the offseason, the Warriors have made one thing clear: if Giannis becomes available, they intend to be ready.