Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Warriors
Getty
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks congratulates Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors after the Warriors beat the Bucks at Chase Center on January 07, 2026.
The Golden State Warriors came up empty in their aggressive pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline after the Milwaukee Bucks opted to keep their franchise cornerstone past Thursday’s cutoff.
But while Antetokounmpo remains in Milwaukee for now, league insiders believe the story is far from finished — and that the real battleground may shift to the offseason.
Bucks Were Gathering Intel, Not Closing Deals
NBA insider Chris Haynes shed light on Milwaukee’s thinking, explaining that the Bucks never reached the point of seriously executing a deal at the deadline.
“Sources close to me told me that he never requested a trade,” Haynes said on NBA on Prime. “Obviously, he’s been applying pressure over the last couple of years in hopes that the Bucks would turn this roster into a championship-contending roster. He wants to contend for a title during his prime.
“But right now, he’s happy. I was told he’s committed and focused on getting back healthy from that calf injury, and he’s progressing really well — to the point where he might even play in the All-Star Game.”
Haynes added that Milwaukee’s approach at the deadline was exploratory rather than transactional.
“What ultimately stopped a move from happening was that the Bucks were essentially in an intel-gathering phase,” Haynes said. “They wanted to see what deals were out there, and they made the decision that the offseason would be better suited to make a real play.”
Warriors Pivot at Deadline but Keep Draft Ammo Intact
Once it became clear that Milwaukee was unlikely to move Antetokounmpo, Golden State pivoted quickly — but without sacrificing future flexibility.
The Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga, a central piece in their Giannis framework, along with Buddy Hield, to acquire Kristaps Porziņģis. The move gave Golden State a stretch big man it had targeted for months while preserving up to four future first-round picks for a larger swing down the line.
At first glance, the Kuminga deal appeared to shut the door on a Giannis pursuit.
Behind the scenes, it did not.
Kuminga Trade Sparked “Hope” for Warriors
According to Nick Friedell of The Athletic, Golden State’s front office has not abandoned the idea of chasing Antetokounmpo if circumstances change this summer.
“Some observers wrote off the Warriors’ possible chase of Giannis Antetokounmpo as soon as news broke of the Kuminga deal,” Friedell wrote. “Team sources were quick not to completely close the door on the pursuit. The hope is that they can still find a way to make an Antetokounmpo deal happen down the line.”
The belief inside the organization is that roster dynamics — and leverage — could look very different once the season ends.
Giannis Says He Wants to Stay — With a Condition
Antetokounmpo has publicly maintained that his preference is to remain in Milwaukee, but his comments have consistently left room for interpretation.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, the two-time MVP reiterated his loyalty while tying it directly to contention.
“Brother, if you ask me deep down what I want today, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career,” Antetokounmpo said. “I want to win here, another championship. And if you can tell me that’s possible, let’s just hang up the phone.”
The phone, notably, has not been hung up.
Offseason Pressure Looms for Bucks — and Opportunity for Warriors
Milwaukee could have access to as many as three first-round picks in the offseason, including a 2026 selection that could slide toward the lottery if struggles continue. The Bucks will need those assets — and creative roster reshaping — to convince their superstar that another title run is realistic.
Golden State is betting that question remains unanswered.
The Warriors enter the summer with preserved draft capital, financial flexibility, and a front office prepared to re-engage if Antetokounmpo’s calculus shifts.
For now, the chase is paused.
But inside the Warriors’ organization, the belief remains that the real Giannis window may be just opening — not closing.