The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga continues to have people on the edge of their seats. So far, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as his most likely destination due to the trade package they’ve reportedly put together.
Golden State Warriors Are the Predicted Winners of the Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes
At this stage, everyone knows that the Milwaukee Bucks and Antetokounmpo are headed for a divorce. The only thing that’s got people holding their breath is whether he’ll get traded by Thursday, and to which team.
Several people, including PFSN’s Andrew Melnick, predict that the answer to the latter is the Warriors. This is based on the fact that Golden State currently offers the best package for the Bucks’ star. “The one team that seems to have the assets to really make a go at Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Warriors,” Melnick wrote.
He further strengthened the claim, writing, “The Bucks are intrigued at by the thought of collecting first-round picks from the Warriors, and if Antetokounmpo is dealt, Golden State appears to the favorite. Draymond Green’s expiring contract and disgruntled forward Jonathan Kuminga could be used in a deal.”
The Warriors are not going to win their division or their conference, let alone an NBA Title this season. Not with their current roster, at least. That quickly changes with Antetokounmpo playing alongside Stephen Curry, though.
Aside from altering their immediate future, though, this move will also jeopardize their ability to inject youth into their roster moving forward. That’s because this deal will include four first-round unprotected picks (2026, 2028, 2030, 2032), as well as a pick swap somewhere.
On the Warriors’ part, they seem more than willing to completely alter the trajectory of their franchise for Antetokounmpo. This includes trading away Green, who’s played his entire career there and was instrumental in those four championship-winning years.
BREAKING: The Warriors have placed Draymond Green in trade talks, and his 14-year run with the team is in jeopardy, per @anthonyVslater pic.twitter.com/95HyNG3i8u
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 3, 2026
Green does not necessarily have to go to the Bucks, though. A third team can be brought in to facilitate an Antetokounmpo to the Warriors trade, but it can’t be just any team.
For Green’s sake, the Warriors might look to involve a team that’s in the buyer’s market for a win-now piece. A move that, according to an anonymous league executive, Green might be on board with.
If Green is also on board, the only thing that’s really keeping the Warriors from acquiring Antetokounmpo is the Bucks. Milwaukee’s front office could allow the trade deadline to pass without moving their star and opt to do so in the summer.
