The Golden State Warriors have been floated as a surprise frontrunner in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey outlined a scenario in which Golden State’s combination of contracts and long-term draft capital could ultimately outbid the rest of the league.
NBA Reporter Highlights How Warriors Can Win Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
Bailey emphasized that Jimmy Butler III’s unexpected injury has presented an opportunity for the Warriors to sign the Greek Freak.
“The Golden State Warriors’ short- and long-term prospects have been all over the place lately,” Bailey wrote, pointing to a season defined by instability and sudden change.
That uncertainty intensified after Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending torn right ACL in January. While Bailey noted that Jonathan Kuminga’s trade situation had dominated headlines for much of the year, Butler’s injury temporarily shifted the Warriors’ priorities.
“The Jonathan Kuminga situation (also known as, ‘The Inevitable Jonathan Kuminga Trade’) has generated headlines all season, but Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL tear forced it off the front page,” Bailey wrote.
Despite Butler’s injury, Bailey emphasized that Golden State still possesses a valuable financial tool. Butler’s two-year, $110,959,223 contract, which runs through the 2026–27 season, gives the Warriors a clean salary-matching centerpiece in a potential blockbuster deal.
“Golden State probably still needs to unload him, but Butler’s absence means he may need to play now. He could also be part of potential deals that include Butler’s contract (even if the Warriors are currently signaling a desire to keep him through his rehab),” Bailey explained.
As Golden State sorts through its internal questions, Bailey suggested Milwaukee’s situation is becoming increasingly unstable, especially with Antetokounmpo’s health and the Bucks’ uneven play.
“Meanwhile, as the front office has been attempting to sort through all of that, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s presence on the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster seems to get less tenable with every game (and injury),” Bailey wrote.
Antetokounmpo recently suffered a calf strain and was unable to finish a loss against a depleted Denver Nuggets squad, a moment Bailey highlighted as emblematic of Milwaukee’s broader concerns.
“Thanks to a calf strain, Antetokounmpo failed to finish Milwaukee’s loss to a Denver Nuggets team without its top seven rotation players. And Golden State figures to be among the vultures circling the Bucks on nights like that one,” he added.
Bailey ultimately laid out the framework that could allow the Warriors to outmaneuver rivals if Giannis becomes available.
“The Warriors can offer Butler’s contract, Kuminga and every hint of draft capital they have in exchange for Giannis and some of Milwaukee’s unwanted contracts,” Bailey wrote.
He concluded by stressing the long-term value of Golden State’s future picks, particularly those scheduled to convey after Stephen Curry’s era.
“And given the value of Golden State’s far-flung picks, which will convey after Stephen Curry is gone, that will ultimately prove enough pair Giannis with Stephen Curry.”
From a basketball standpoint, the logic is straightforward. Antetokounmpo would instantly replace Butler’s wing production with elite two-way skills, creating interior pressure that would amplify Curry’s off-ball shooting while anchoring the defense alongside Draymond Green.
Financially, Butler’s expiring structure and Kuminga’s contract give Golden State flexibility, while its distant draft picks may be especially appealing to a Bucks team staring at a possible reset.
Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, remains under contract with Milwaukee on a three-year, $186 million deal, and the two-time MVP has repeatedly stated he will not request a trade. Still, as Bailey’s analysis suggests, league-wide belief persists that if Milwaukee fails to regain its footing, a move could come, if not at the deadline, then in the offseason.
