Warriors Have Long Desired Former Champ From Eastern Conference

The Golden State Warriors struck out on the biggest names in free agency and the trade market over the summer, but the NBA has a way of replenishing its own coffers of players interested in new homes on an annual basis.

Paul George is with the Philadelphia 76ers and Lauri Markkanen re-signed with the Utah Jazz. However, two-time league MVP and former champion Giannis Antetokounmpo could be pushing for relocation as early as this season.

The Milwaukee Bucks star big man put pressure on his organization to rework a once-championship roster ahead of last season. The franchise responded by parting ways with Jrue Holiday in a trade with the Portland Trailblazers for star point guard Damian Lillard.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry dribbles against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during an NBA game.

© Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

That move initially backfired, though there is reason certainly for Bucks fans to hope the duo can regroup and get healthy in 2024-25 under head coach Doc Rivers, who replaced first-year man Adrian Griffin at the helm during the middle of last year. But if that doesn’t happen, Antetokounmpo could be the next in a long line of superstars to force his way into a new situation.

“One that I think is just always going to be monitored around the NBA is if the wheels fall off the Bucks,” Sam Amick of the Athletic said on the Thursday, September 12 edition of “The TK Show” podcast. “We know that [Golden State owner] Joe Lacob has had kind of dreams of Giannis coming the Warriors’ way for a very long time.”

Amick went on to dub the chances of an Antetokounmpo to Golden State trade “unlikely,” but also noted the impending free agency of oft-injured Bucks wing Khris Middleton next summer.

The Warriors would undoubtedly have to sell the farm to land Antetokounmpo, who averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game last season, according to Basketball Reference.

However, multiple first-round picks and young talent like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski is enough to at least get an offer started.

And the pairing of Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry has such earth-shattering potential that the Warriors would have to do everything possible to make that move happen — including mortgaging their entire future for a two-year or three-year window.

Curry, 36, is under contract for three more seasons and looked clearly during Team USA’s run to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer like he can still be the best or second-best player on a championship squad.