Jason Burgos
A new rumor claims the Golden State Warriors won’t be able to make the best trade offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. And that it won’t be the second, or third best, either.
In January, the Warriors were hit with a debilitating setback. Just when they started to get on a serious roll and looked like the Finals dark horse many expected them to be, Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL tear. The injury seemingly destroyed any chance of competing for a title in 2026.
However, Golden State did have one last hope. That was a blockbuster trade for Milwaukee Bucks great Antetokounmpo. Reports suggested the Warriors were willing to give up a boatload of future draft picks to get a deal done. But Milwaukee chose to end discussions and punt further talks until the summer, when they could get more jam-packed offers.
Warriors won’t be a serious contender for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer
Yet, when discussions do restart, ESPN Warriors reporter Anthony Slater doesn’t like their chances. In a conversation this week with 95.7 The Game, he suggested they won’t be among the best three offers made for the 10-time All-Star.
Furthermore, Slater claimed that the Warriors will move “cautiously” in trade talks this summer, and he does not believe they have the same “level of thirst” to star hunt now. He added that if there were a Kawhi Leonard trade framework that was too good to pass on, the organization is more likely to make that move instead of a deal for Antetokounmpo.
There is certainly a ton of risk in an Antetokounmpo trade if they did give up four unprotected first-rounders as we rumored in the winter. He is 31 and is showing obvious signs of wear-and-tear on his body after 13 seasons in the league. Especially on his legs.
Nevertheless, when healthy, he is one of the best players on the planet and would make the Warriors a Finals favorite alongside Stephen Curry in 2026-27.
