In these final days leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline, all eyes are on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. As rumors continue to swirl around the former MVP, one insider noted that the superstar forward could be uninterested in one potential landing spot.
After months of speculation, reports emerged last week that the Bucks are finally showing a willingness to listen to trade offers for Antetokounmpo. Though currently injured, teams are still lining up in hopes of acquiring Milwaukee’s longtime cornerstone.
Insider Weighs In on Prospect of Giannis Antetokounmpo Joining Golden State Warriors
Among the teams that have been closely connected to Antetokounmpo are the Golden State Warriors. Still playing at a high level, the organization has done what it can to put a competitive squad around Steph Curry. The Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler at this time last year, but he is now sidelined for the foreseeable future due to an ACL injury.
Now in search of a co-star for Curry once again, Golden State could push all its chips in to land Antetokounmpo and make him their primary pillar for the future.
While the Warriors have reportedly expressed interest in Antetokounmpo, the feelings might not be mutual. In his latest roundup of NBA intel, insider Marc Stein dove into the possibility of the Bucks star being moved to Golden State.
He said it is believed that Antetokounmpo isn’t fond of being dealt to the Warriors out of fear of facing backlash similar to what Kevin Durant has endured since his decision to sign with the team in 2016.
“League sources say that Golden State is aware of recent rumblings that Antetokounmpo can’t be assumed to be as eager as he was once perceived to be to relocate to Stephen Curry’s town and team,” Stein wrote.
“How credible are such rumblings? Presumably only Giannis knows for sure. Yet I have heard from sources briefed on the situation that some in the know suspect Antetokounmpo could be turned off by the idea of joining an older team and/or facing the sort of criticism that Kevin Durant continues to absorb to this day about teaming up with Curry.”
If Antetokounmpo truly feels this way, it represents a significant roadblock for the Warriors as they attempt to pull off another blockbuster move. Given that he has been the face of the franchise for more than a decade, the Bucks will likely try to appease his wishes.
Durant’s 2016 decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Warriors — not only a conference rival but the very team that knocked them out of the playoffs — stands apart from Antetokounmpo potentially departing Milwaukee to head West. In this case, the Warriors are not currently built as a championship-level team, unlike the 73-9 juggernaut Durant joined a decade ago.
With roughly three days remaining until the trade deadline, Milwaukee still has time to weigh its options and decide whether to move Antetokounmpo now or wait until the offseason in hopes of landing a larger haul.
