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The Golden State Warriors could trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and add LeBron James this summer amid his uncertain Los Angeles Lakers future.
The Golden State Warriors have eyes for only one player at the NBA trade deadline, and that is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, and reports say the team is making a massive push to land the two-time MVP.
While it’s still uncertain if a deal for Antetokounmpo will happen, the front office is doing everything it can to grab the hottest trade commodity in recent NBA memory in a deal that could include Jonathan Kuminga, Jimmy Butler, or even Draymond Green.
At the same time, down 101 Highway in Los Angeles, the future of LeBron James with the Lakers remainsextremely uncertain.
However, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, there is a chance that the league’s all-time leading scorer could join the Warriors after this season, especially if they land Antetokounmpo at the deadline or over the summer.
“LeBron could join a team on the come up,” Amick said on the Run It Back show. “Cleveland and Golden State are the two places people talk about…if the Warriors land (Giannis), maybe (LeBron) goes that way.”
Run It Back
Sam Amick on LeBron’s future:
“LeBron could join a team on the come up. Cleveland and Golden State are the two places people talk about…if the Warriors land (Giannis), maybe (LeBron) goes that way.”
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@sam_amick | @MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @TeamLou23
Additionally, while his name hasbeen floated in trade rumors, Green has expressed interest in playingwith his longtime friend and rivalin James. While there was a previous thought thatwould be with the Lakers, suddenly, Golden State is in play.
Warriors Giannis Trade Rumors, LeBron Future
The Warriors landing Antetokounmpo could very wellhappen. While the Minnesota Timberwolves have made a late push for the 2021 Finals MVP before the trade deadline, all indications show Golden State isn’t giving up hope on pairing him with current franchise superstar Stephen Curry.
A package would include either Butler or Green (recent reports point to the latter), Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, any other young players the Bucks want back,and the four first-round draft picks the Warriors have to offer.
The deal is on the table, and while Antetokounmpo’s latest comments indicate he wants to win in Milwaukee, the idea of them moving him and beginning afull rebuild remains imminent. As Amick said, if the Warriors trade for Antetokounmpo, that could open the door for James signing with Golden State in free agency, though it would have to be for a small, even minimum-level deal.
However, Amick made sure to mention that even James doesn’t know what his future holds.
“I’ve talked to his folks a lot lately (and), he doesn’t know,” he added. “People who care about him a lot, and also don’t know what’s next, they’re literally chasing him around the country to watch all of his biggest games, with the mentality of ‘We just don’t know (if James will retire).”
After teaming up with Curry on the 2024 USA Olympic Team, a feat Green himselfhad admiration for, James said that playing with the NBA’s all-time three-point leader was ‘everything and more.’
James’ future is still very much up in the air, and while a move to the Bay Area would be interesting, it’s fair to say retirement or a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers feels more likely.
Jonathan Kuminga Trade Rumors And Warriors Future
While Antetokounmpo trade rumors lead headlines for the Warriors less than 24 hours before the trade deadline, the question of Kuminga’s future remains pertinent as well.Even a month ago, before Butler’s ACL injury, there wasan almost certainty that Golden State would trade Kuminga by February 5th, but as time hasgone on, the possibility of the 23-year-old wingbeing moved has been closing rapidly.
Previously, Anthony Slater reported the Warriors wouldn’t rule out the idea of keeping Kuminga past the deadline, but at that point, it almost felt like a message to other teams that the forward should have a higher trade value than what was on the market, despite head coach Steve Kerr leaving him out of the lineup for a month straight.
Anthony Slater
Latest on Jonathan Kuminga a month out to the trade deadline on NBA Today.
It’s posturing season. He’s very available, but Warriors are at least saying they’d be willing to keep Kuminga into summer if nothing appealing enough materializes.
But now, according to Amick, if a deal for Antetokounmpo doesn’t materialize, the Warriors willkeep Kuminga past the trade deadline.
“Him going to the Kings was definitely on the table before the Giannis stuff,” Amick said on his latest Run It Back appearance. “If Giannis doesn’t get traded, I think the Warriors hold him, and waiting until the summer…You lose out on the Giannis sweepstakes if you move Kuminga somewhere else.”
Kumingawas linked to the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, and even the Los Angeles Lakers in trade rumors, but at this point, with their current roster and his reported trade value, Kuminga remains more valuableon the Warriors than what they could get back for him.
Run It Back
A Jonathan Kuminga trade is dependent on Giannis, says Sam Amick 👀
“Him going to the Kings was definitely on the table before the Giannis stuff…if Giannis doesn’t get traded, I think the Warriors hold him.”
@sam_amick | @MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @TeamLou23
A deal over the summer could be likely, but for now, despite his trade demand, the disgruntled and injured fifth-year player will be staying in the Bay Area, barring a blockbuster Antetokounmpo trade.