The Golden State Warriors acquired former New York Knicks and Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis in a Wednesday night trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks.
Although many feel confident stating the Warriors are finished with blockbuster trades this season, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes the franchise may have one move up its sleeve on the final day of the trade season. In a hypothetical deal created by Bailey, the Warriors would ‘salvage their NBA trade deadline nightmare’ by acquiring a Milwaukee Bucks standout forward.
“(Marc) Stein is probably right,” Bailey wrote Thursday. “Wednesday's deal involving Porzingis, Kuminga, and Hield may well have ended the Warriors' pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
“But we've seen crazier things happen in the NBA. Just last year, we got the Luka Doncic trade. And the Milwaukee Bucks accepting Jimmy Butler's contract, four first-round picks, and one first-round pick swap (some of which will convey after Curry retires) for Giannis wouldn't be any more shocking than that.”
“It's reasonable to value those far-flung Golden State picks more than firsts from other organizations. And, as has already been pointed out, Butler's contract could be traded again next year, meaning this return could get even bigger.”
Bailey’s trade idea would send Butler, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick, a 2031 first-round pick swap, and a 2032 first-round pick to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
Bailey’s trade idea would have been a no-brainer before the Porzingis deal. The Warriors needed a game-changing star to fill the void left, but Butler, who suffered an ACL injury in January, and Antetokounmpo unquestionably fit the bill.
However, with Golden State poaching Porzingis from Atlanta, it makes more sense for the seven-time NBA champions to retain Butler (and Draymond Green) instead of trying to complete their dream trade at this stage of the trade season.
It’s highly unlikely the Warriors will trade for Antetokounmpo before the 3 p.m. deadline.
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