The Golden State Warriors are positioning themselves as aggressive buyers ahead of the February trade deadline. Veteran NBA insider Anthony Slater believes the front office is leaving no stone unturned for a blockbuster trade that might involve Giannis Antetokounmpo.
NBA Insider Reveals Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy’s Plan to Bring In Giannis Antetokounmpo
Speaking on NBA Today, The Athletic’s Slater detailed how Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is personally leading the charge as Golden State explores major trade possibilities.
“Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy, he’s actually in New Zealand, was at a game yesterday between two potential lottery picks down there in Auckland,” Slater said. “Which would tell you while he is making a ton of calls, he’s probably the driver of this pursuit.”
Slater added that Dunleavy is balancing long-term scouting with immediate urgency as the Warriors evaluate how to deploy their future draft capital ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
“They may use this 2026 traffic and he needs to try to find players to potentially use that on,” Slater said. “As far as on the ground, Jimmy Butler in San Francisco last night has two events. He’s on crutches… getting ready for ACL surgery.”
Golden State’s motivation for the Greek Freak is straightforward: the franchise is out of time. Stephen Curry is 37. Jimmy Butler is 36 and is out for the season with a torn ACL. Draymond Green turns 36 in March.
The Warriors no longer have the luxury of incremental roster upgrades. Their only viable path back to contention is pairing Curry with another top-five-level superstar.
Antetokounmpo fits that mandate precisely. A Curry-Antetokounmpo pairing would instantly vault Golden State back into the title chase by combining elite shooting with the league’s almost unstoppable interior force.
Golden State enters the week at 27-22, eighth in the Western Conference, with its most recent four-game win streak snapped by back-to-back losses. The Warriors are 2–3 in their last five games, underscoring the uneven nature of their season.
Amid league-wide speculation surrounding Antetokounmpo, the Warriors indeed have emerged as one of several potential suitors, alongside the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Meanwhile, league sources indicate Antetokounmpo has engaged in serious conversations with the Bucks’ front office about his future, opening the door to trade discussions ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
That shift has created an opening for aggressive, asset-rich teams — Golden State included.
Antetokounmpo is currently on a three-year, $175.37 million maximum veteran extension with Milwaukee that runs through 2027, carrying an average annual salary of $58.46 million. Any acquiring team would likely need to commit to an extension, as his 2028 free agency looms large.
But unlike past seasons, the Warriors now have the necessary tools to construct a legitimate blockbuster offer. According to reports, Golden State has shown enthusiasm, with conceptual offers centered around up to four first-round picks, pick swaps, Jonathan Kuminga, and Jimmy Butler for salary-matching purposes.
Kuminga signed a two-year, $48.5 million extension with the Warriors in September 2025, while Butler is under contract for two years and $110.96 million.
Slater noted that despite the swirling rumors, the Warriors’ core remains focused on the present.
“Steph Curry and Draymond Green… they’re focused on trying to win,” Slater said. “They’ve got to beat the Pistons tonight. They’re trying to climb in the standings.”
The Warriors are indeed a dynasty in decline, but as of now, they appear positioned to re-enter the title conversation by making one final, franchise-altering move.
Armed with multiple first-round picks, matching salaries, and an urgency driven by time, the Warriors are expected to remain among the most aggressive teams on the trade market as the deadline approaches. If Curry and Antetokounmpo are in the same jersey, it will be a dream come true for the Warriors fans.
