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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts on the sidelines during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors have positioned themselves as the sole realistic destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Bucks decide to move him before the February 5 trade deadline.
NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported Sunday that if a Giannis trade happens before Wednesday night, it will be with Golden State.
“The Warriors are very much in the mix. As I’ve reported since last week, if a Giannis trade happens now, it will be with Golden State,” Siegel reported. “If anything happens, it won’t be until Wednesday night at the earliest.”
The timeline matters. Milwaukee has three days to determine whether to trade Antetokounmpo now or wait until summer when more teams will have access to additional first-round picks and clearer cap situations. If the Bucks choose to move him before the deadline, Golden State appears to be the only team capable of completing a deal.
That position gives the Warriors leverage and urgency. General manager Mike Dunleavy has aggressively pursued Antetokounmpo, and Siegel’s reporting suggests those efforts have placed Golden State ahead of other suitors.
Brett Siegel
@JohnNgu72254475 Warriors are very much in the mix. As I’ve reported since last week, if a Giannis trade happens now, it will be with Golden State. We will have new details in the morning on everything, don’t worry. If anything happens, it won’t be until Wednesday night at the earliest.
Why the Warriors Can Pull This Off
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GettyThe Golden State Warriors are reportedly ready to send a massive trade package to the Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo by the trade deadline.
Golden State can offer up to four first-round picks in a potential Antetokounmpo trade. Those picks include 2026, 2028, and 2032 unprotected, plus 2030 if it falls within the top-20 range. That gives them one of the deepest draft portfolios among contending teams.
Milwaukee is seeking blue-chip young talent or a surplus of draft picks in exchange for the two-time MVP. The Warriors can provide both. Jonathan Kuminga represents the kind of young, controllable asset the Bucks want. Brandin Podziemski, a Milwaukee native, could sweeten the package.
The salary-matching piece has been the subject of recent speculation. Jimmy Butler makes $54.1 million this season and $56.8 million next season, making him the obvious choice to balance salaries in an Antetokounmpo deal.
But The Athletic’s Nick Friedell reported Sunday that the Warriors have made it clear to Butler they plan to stick by him as he begins his ACL rehab process. That suggests Golden State might use a different structure to complete a Giannis trade.
The Draymond Green Factor
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors
GettyDraymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors.
If the Warriors aren’t including Butler in a Giannis package, the alternative becomes obvious. Draymond Green and several other rotation players could provide the necessary salary matching.
Green is 35 years old and making $27.6 million this season with two years remaining on his contract. Using him as the centerpiece alongside Kuminga, Podziemski, and draft capital would allow Golden State to keep Butler while landing Antetokounmpo.
That scenario creates emotional complexity. Green has been with the Warriors since 2012. He’s won four championships in Golden State. His defensive intelligence and playmaking remain valuable even as his athleticism declines. Trading him would end one of the most successful partnerships in NBA history.
But basketball decisions aren’t always sentimental. If moving Green is what it takes to pair Stephen Curry with Giannis, the Warriors will make that trade without hesitation. Curry is 37 years old. The championship window is closing. Antetokounmpo extends that window by years, not months.
The Wednesday Night Timeline
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Warriors
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors talks to Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Siegel’s reporting that nothing will happen until Wednesday night at the earliest suggests negotiations are ongoing but not imminent. The Bucks are weighing whether to accept a Warriors offer now or wait for a potentially better return in the summer.
Milwaukee’s leverage depends on how many teams are willing to gut their rosters and draft capital for a 31-year-old superstar with injury concerns. The New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves have all been mentioned as potential suitors.
But if the Bucks prioritize draft picks and want to move Antetokounmpo before the deadline, the Warriors appear to be their only serious option. That gives Golden State some negotiating power, though Milwaukee can always choose to wait.
The February 5 deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. EST. If Siegel’s timeline holds, the Bucks would make a decision Wednesday night.
What It Means for the Warriors
Landing Antetokounmpo would transform Golden State’s championship odds. A Curry-Giannis pairing would create matchup nightmares for every team in the Western Conference. The Warriors would instantly become legitimate title favorites despite their 27-23 record.
The cost would be significant. Kuminga, Podziemski, and four first-round picks represents a massive haul. Including Green or Butler adds emotional weight to the transaction. But the Warriors aren’t in a position to worry about draft picks in the 2030s or roster flexibility five years from now.
Curry’s window is closing. Every season without a championship is a wasted opportunity. If Dunleavy can land Antetokounmpo without giving up both Butler and Green, it’s a deal Golden State makes immediately.
If the Bucks demand both veterans plus the young players and picks, the calculus becomes more complicated. But the Warriors have shown willingness to go all-in when a franchise-altering opportunity presents itself.
Fullcourtpass
If a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade happens before the deadline it will be with the Golden State Warriors, per @BrettSiegelNBA
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Final Word
Siegel’s reporting clarifies the Giannis sweepstakes significantly. If Milwaukee trades him before Wednesday night, it’s the Warriors who land him. No other team is positioned to complete a deal before the deadline.
That doesn’t guarantee a trade happens. The Bucks could decide waiting until summer provides better returns. More teams will have cap flexibility and draft capital available in June. Milwaukee might prefer a fuller market to maximize Antetokounmpo’s value.
But if urgency wins out, if the Bucks decide moving him now serves their rebuild better than waiting, Golden State will be ready. Dunleavy has assembled the pieces necessary to complete a blockbuster. The draft picks are available. The young players are on the roster. The salary matching can work with either Butler or Green as the centerpiece.
Wednesday night looms as the critical moment. Either the Bucks pull the trigger on a Warriors deal, or they table the discussion until summer. Either way, Golden State has reportedly positioned itself as the only team capable of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo before the February 5 deadline.