Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors
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Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Kristaps Porzingis who is now traded to Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors made a decisive late pivot ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline, ending a week-long pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo and instead acquiring former All-Star center Kristaps Porziņģis after concluding Milwaukee was unlikely to move its franchise star.
According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, Golden State’s shift was driven by belief rather than timing — a determination that crystallized in the final 24 hours of talks.
Shams Charania: Warriors Concluded Giannis Was Not Available
“The Warriors’ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo after a week is over,” Charania said Wednesday night on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “They have clearly moved on with these moves. My understanding is the Warriors made a pick-heavy offer last week and continued to have conversations going into this week with the Bucks, but over the last 24 hours, they came to the belief that the Bucks were not going to move their two-time MVP at this trade deadline.”
Charania added that Golden State chose to act rather than risk standing pat if Milwaukee ultimately held firm.
Jonathan Kuminga Central to Giannis Framework
At the center of Golden State’s Giannis framework was Jonathan Kuminga, a former lottery pick long viewed as a necessary inclusion in any serious offer. Once the Warriors concluded Antetokounmpo would not be moved, Kuminga’s status shifted quickly from cornerstone trade chip to movable asset.
“So after four-plus seasons in the Bay after being a lottery pick with the Warriors, they have traded away Jonathan Kuminga,” Charania said. His run in Golden State is over. The Warriors were simply ready to move on from him.”
Kuminga’s departure followed a strained relationship that included contentious contract negotiations last offseason and an inconsistent on-court role.
Why Porzingis Became the Pivot Target
With Giannis off the board, Golden State prioritized flexibility and immediate upside. Porzingis fits that profile despite a lengthy injury history, offering floor spacing and rim protection without long-term cap commitment.
“They get a high-upside big man if Kristaps Porziņģis can be on the floor,” Charania said. “They’re excited about him. They had targeted him for the last few months. And a key note: Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford were actually teammates in Boston when the Celtics won a championship a couple of years ago.”
Porzingis is on an expiring $30.7 million contract, giving the Warriors optionality beyond this season while preserving future maneuverability.
Injury Risk Accepted as Calculated Gamble
Porzingis missed 13 consecutive games prior to the trade — 12 due to left Achilles tendinitis — and appeared in just 17 games this season after playing 42 last year. Still, Golden State accepted the risk once the Giannis path closed.
The Warriors further reshaped their frontcourt by trading Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick, leaving Porzingis, Horford, and Quinten Post as their primary center rotation in tandem with Draymond Green, who will remain in Golden State after anxious moments.
“Draymond Green — if there was a trade he was going to be a part of, it was going to be the Giannis trade,” Charania said. “They have no other conversations with Giannis right now.”
Once it became clear Milwaukee was unlikely to deal its superstar, Golden State chose movement over inaction — pivoting to Porzingis as a calculated bet rather than waiting on a deal that never materialized.