Warriors Suffer Major Blow in Pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo - Heavy Sports

The Golden State Warriors can offer the Milwaukee Bucks more draft compensation for Giannis Antetokounmpo than any of his other trade suitors, but that doesn't appear like it's going to matter with the trade deadline looming on Thursday. NBA reporter Evan Sidery took to social media on Wednesday, February 4 and said that if the Bucks ultimately decide to move Antetokounmpo ahead of the deadline, it will probably be to either the Miami Heat of the Minnesota Timberwolves. "The Heat and Timberwolves have been the Bucks’ main focus lately in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade negotiations, per @ShamsCharania," Sidery reported via X. "It appears to be down to Miami, Minnesota or staying in Milwaukee. The Warriors seem to be out of the Giannis sweepstakes." Bucks Not Interested in Taking Back Draymond Green in Potential Trade With Warriors Part of the issue may be the Bucks' unwillingness to take back Draymond Green as a part of any Antetokounmpo trade. Insider Marc Stein reported that the Bucks "have shown a reluctance to acquiring Draymond Green in any potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade package." As such, the Warriors would need to involve a third team, which could provide draft picks to the Bucks in exchange for adding Green to their roster. Warriors Can Offer Bucks Most Draft Capital in Cleanest 2-Team Trade ESPN's group of NBA insiders authored a trade proposal that would see the Warriors acquire Antetokounmpo and pair him with fellow two-time MVP Stephen Curry without including Green in the package. "Golden State, which can trade up to four of its own first-round picks and has a reasonable matching salary in the injured Butler, has the cleanest path to a two-team trade that gives Milwaukee young talent, picks and cap flexibility," Kevin Pelton wrote. "Butler will have an expiring contract next season and could return value at the 2027 deadline if he's back from an ACL tear that has him out for the remainder of this season." The deal would send Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner to Golden State in return for Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Butler. Milwaukee would also acquire four first-round draft picks (2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032). The Bucks would also get a first-round pick swap in 2031. "In this construction, the Warriors also give up and Podziemski to fulfill Kuminga's trade request and get Turner," Pelton continued. "That would create a crowded Golden State front-court with incumbents Draymond Green and Al Horford, though the Warriors would probably want to manage their minutes and Antetokounmpo's return from another calf injury." Bucks May Want to Wait Until Summer to Deal Giannis Antetokounmpo Why the Bucks might balk at that offer is less clear, assuming they want to get a deal done before the deadline. But that may not be the case. Several more teams could get in on the trade discussions for Antetokounmpo if Milwaukee waits until the summer, as a fresh crop of draft capital will open up for franchises across the league. Better and more competing offers should drive the Antetokounmpo trade return up for the Bucks. On the flip side, Antetokounmpo will have just one year remaining on his deal at that point, giving him more leverage to control where he lands, as he can use the threat of denying a contract extension to scare off suitors he doesn't find desirable.