The Warriors are reportedly among the most serious suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Team owner Joe Lacob is a huge fan of the 10-time All-Star, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, who hears from sources that Golden State is “ready to give up a whole lot” to acquire Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors are “aligned” in their belief that Giannis is the type of player worth going all-in for, Poole adds.
“If we’re talking about trading draft picks that will be going out when Steph (Curry) isn’t here,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said last week, “it’s going to have to be a player that we think we’ll be getting back that is going to be here when those picks are going out. And that player’s going to have to be pretty impactful.
“It would take a good amount, positionally, play style, archetype, all that. I would leave it pretty broad and open. But if there’s a great player to be had, we’ve got everything in the war chest that we would be willing to use.”
Appearing on NBA Countdown on Friday (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he thinks the Warriors might have the best current trade package among the group of teams pursuing Antetokounmpo. However, that may not be the case in the offseason, when other suitors will have additional draft assets to include in offers.
“I think (the Warriors) have to be very aggressive,” Windhorst said. “They understand it — they are in the eye of this storm. Because if they are going to make this move, they’re going to have to close, I really believe, by next Thursday. Their offer cannot really improve by the summer.”
Here are a few more notes on the Warriors:
- If Golden State does trade for Antetokounmpo, the decision will have lasting implications for years to come, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Organizational mainstays Curry and Draymond Green say they aren’t the type of players to push for deals, but they’re generally kept in the loop when moves are being considered. “We’ve got a great team in this locker room,” Green said. “If a move is made, a move is made. But that’s not our job, that’s not our place to sit and wait or worry about if a move is gonna be made. … We’re not chasing anything but greatness. And you don’t chase greatness by whining about a roster. You chase greatness by embracing the roster that you have, getting the best out of every single guy, and that’s what we’ve done for years and that’s what we’re gonna continue to do.”
- Head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t expect any deals to be completed until closer to the February 5 deadline, as Eden Collier of NBC Sports Bay Area relays. “I talk to Mike (Dunleavy) pretty much every day, and he keeps me up to speed,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game’s Steiny and Guru show. “But honestly, what he told me the other day was that everything’s going to go ’til the last second. There literally hasn’t been a single thing where he’s called me and said, ‘So-and-so offered this or that.’ Not one thing. … It’s all speculation at this point. It’s going to go down to the wire.”
- Multiple Warriors executives, including Dunleavy and assistant GM Larry Harris, were in New Zealand on Friday scouting NBL prospects Karim Lopez and Dash Daniels, tweets Olgun Uluc of ESPN. Both players are considered potential first-round picks.
- Kerr is on an expiring contact and he’s undecided on whether he’ll return to coach Golden State for a 13th season, he tells Anthony Slater of ESPN. “Let’s wait until the end of the year and see if everybody’s aligned,” Kerr said. “If we are, then we’ll keep going. If not, then we won’t. (It’ll depend) how the season ends, what the future looks like, all of that factors in. And they, meaning Joe and management, they’ve got a lot to think about. It’s a really interesting time for the organization.”
Surely no body believes they have the best package. Jimmy Butler off an ACL and out for a season, Kuminga who’s young and raw plus 3 or 4 first round picks which will all be 25-30 if they have Curry and Giannas
That’s a terrible return.
Getting Butler is basically what they had in Lillard and they had to buy him out. If anything Butler is worse cause he’s more vocal and will cause more issues to get out of a place if he doesn’t want to be there. Then Kuminga yes there is potential but right now he’s basically a more athletic Kyle Kuzma. It’s garbage.
Even from the Warriors side of things, you’re going to play Giannas and Green together? Are you going to give contracts to all of his brothers to keep him happy? What’s happens if Draymond calls out his brothers and punches them in the face? Then what about the future, Curry is almost 38, Draymond is also 36 and Giannas is 31. You’ll have no picks for the next decade. Yes you have a good team but you’re also one injury away to an already old player from being the Sacramento kings for the next 10 years.
You massively overrate the trade market. Luka and Trae bought back 1 first round pick, combined. It’s not what you think it is, and the few teams who could beat the Warriors package (OKC/SAS), have openly stated they are not interested.
Also, Michael Jordan punched Steve Kerr in almost the exact same way when they were teammates on the Bulls, lets not get too precious about that, especially since he hasn’t punched anyone since.
Warriors have 10 times better trade package than Heat.
Why?
Warriors 2030 unprotected First – Curry is 43 years old
Warriors 2031 unprotected First Swap – Curry is 44 years old
Warriors 2032 unprotected First – Curry is 45 years old
Those Heat picks have little value.
Specifically, the Stepien Rule requires teams to have at least one future first-rounder in every other draft.
I just found out about it too ……. . They can do pick swaps though.
Stop with facts.
Literally, word for word, everything I have said all along was going to happen, is…perhaps going to happen? If everyone who besmirched me over this going to be okay when it really happens?
It will be HILARIOUS watching everyone go from “windows closed, its over, trade Steph” to “broke the league, unfair, asterisk ring”. Which, it will.
This narrative is really being pushed eh. Their offer is dog s**t, even if they empty the cupboards
^ wishcasting. Dubs have long had the best possible package that they will actually put on the table. The other teams who could in theory put better packages on the table are not willing to do so. I have been stating this for months, if not years on here.
ridiculous take.
It’s halftime vs Pistons, Warriors down by 13.
10 men used
6 are undersized guards, often used as even more undersized forwards
This is malpractice.
Steve Kerr gotta go. MDJ listened to him too much on the roster, now the roster has too many undersized guards that Kerr will use as forwards and watch them give up 45 points a quarter.
This is either a paid ad by Davey or their source was him. Must have used his entire fortune.
SMH even if they get Giannis they are not a top 4 team. Why throw away the future to just be in the playoffs. Basketball is a team sport so you need a bench to win not a team of 2 stars and no bench.
They are 2 wins away from bring a top 4 team right now. 2 wins they EASILY could have had, had Kerr not been obsessed with Podz and small ball.
Well Draymind is gonna veto a trade with him in it so that is a non-starter. Unless Lacob sweetener the pot off the books lets see who his podcast becomes sponsored by…
Draymond himself last night: “Ive been here 14 years, the league is a business, if it happens, it happens”. Doesn’t sound like he is vetoing any trade. Also wouldn’t he have piped up about that by now? He has not.
While the bucks have to swap with pelicans in the draft, there is still an incentive to tank this year, as the pelicans are a bottom dweller. If both teams are bottom dwellers they will still get a good pick. Butler can likely be moved again, and he’s not lillard, he doesn’t need a buyout. The warriors offer is pretty good. Really hard to say without knowing exactly what other teams are willing to part with.
I’d prefer they didn’t, but if they do get him, fine and dandy. They will be good – probably contenders.
Just remember in 2032 when the Dubs are a perennial bottom dweller that the mortgage must come due. Law of gravity and whatnot.
Butler, kuminga, 3 firsts (including 1 swap)
Giannis, kuzma
Salaries match perfectly. The bad Kuzma contract helps offset the bad Butler contract for next year. Bucks get their young talent and pretty good picks when considering how old the warriors are. I think it will happen because if the bucks don’t do it now, the Warriors will find a different home for kuminga. Goodbye kuuuuz, hello kuuuum!
The “bad Butler contract” is a giant expiring deal. Literally one of the most valuable assets you can have in today’s landscape as long as you’re willing to separate contract from player.
The Butler/Kuminga + all the picks package honestly wouldn’t be that bad if you didn’t have to continue to pay Kuminga 25+ mil on nothing but hopes and prayers. When you’re dealing a guy like Giannis, you’re already kind of maxed out in the hope and prayer department.
Umm…Butler’s contract is not expiring. I highly doubt that the Bucks want to buy out another player.
The 4 picks would easily out last Curry’s playing days. Dunleavy said he is not going to do that.
So, there will be no Giannis trade to the Warriors.
With Curry’s body breaking down with all these leg injuries you would be crazy to trade away the future. Curry will be retiring in about 2 years. Why trade for a play in spot?
Thanasis MUST be in any trade for Giannis. Therefore, your trade FAILS.
Butler, Kuminga, 3 firsts
Giannis, Portis, Thanasis
GSW isn’t getting Kuzma lmao cmon now Kerr would DNP him even more than he did Kuminga. Portis at least fits Kerr’s system better.
If only ???? 🧐
Post — 13 mins, 6 pts, 1/6 FG, 2 reb
Raynaud — 36 mins, 14 pts, 6/7 FG, 14 reb
Kings should be playing Sabonis and Raynaud together by now. Since the Tanking is on. I doubt it.
Giannis to the Spurs ————- let’s go
No…
The Spurs do not need Giannis…
Spurs have literally said they aren’t interested.
Blazers trade proposal for Giannis
Scoot – center piece
Grant – salary filler
Thybul – salary filler
2 Swaps goes back to Bucks
2 first round picks after 2030
Blazers are happy to help Knicks and Wolves
Blazers get Bridges
Bucks get Thybul, Robert Williams, 2 swaps back
Knicks find a top-tier young talent from the third team and send him to Bucks
Wolves would be similar
McDaniel to Blazers
Wolves find a top-tier young talent from third team and send him to Bucks
I see you got a cherry picker.
Hey Al, playing on the Kings does not = playing on the Dubs.
Empty stat collecting isn’t impressing me.
He’s a rookie and an IQ big. He can play anywhere. And he can ill be better than Post. As he is already proving. Posters here have said he isn’t better than Post. I will remind them he is. Depth is a good thing Davey.
I know it is, I’m just 100% sure Kerr would play him with 4 undersized guards and he would be bad on GSW.
Look I like that guard, Richard. He was a solid pick that late. Just Warriors needed a real center is all. I never would have passed on Raynaud. Considering he played at Stanford. Warriors should know him.
Warriors being absolutely clueless when it comes to drafting and developing bigs = evergreen sentiment. Even if they got Raynaud, you can bet a million dollars Kerr would be playing him 5 mins a game then DNPing him for weeks on end.
I thought he could go late in first rd. He is starting to show nicely man. He is a 4 yr college player. That can help a vet team.
If warriors want to dump their future high lotto picks for Giannis and no help, that’s on them. Nets would like to caution trading picks when your team will be horrible. Giannis can’t make your team win alone. Curry will be cooked in a few years and everyone else on that team is horrible or retired in a few years.
Dunleavy said he is not doing that.