Giannis to the Warriors: why the potential trade doesn’t convince
Giannis to the Warriors would shift the NBA balance, but not necessarily for the better. Is Golden State really ready to absorb the impact of a superstar with an incomplete roster?
That the relationship between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks is nearing its end is now common knowledge across the NBA. With only a few hours left before the NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors are among the teams most actively exploring a potential deal for the Greek superstar.
Giannis landing to the Warriors at this stage would not bring overall benefits to the league. It would further weaken the Eastern Conference, stripping it of one of its most important stars and making it increasingly less competitive compared to the Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors would not represent the ideal environment for Giannis either. After his long stint in Milwaukee, the Greek forward would find himself in a different situation, but not a fully competitive one. At present, Golden State sits eighth in the West with a record just above .500, hardly a convincing context for a team with legitimate championship aspirations.
Beyond the season Stephen Curry is having, the California-based team offers few real certainties. An inconsistent bench, a visibly declining Draymond Green – who could even be included in a potential trade – and the injury to Jimmy Butler, expected to sideline him until next season, all paint a complicated picture. In that context, Giannis’ arrival would not be a structural solution to the Warriors’ problems.
Biting off more than they can chew?
Another central issue revolves around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract. Golden State would have to absorb a three-year, $186 million deal (two guaranteed years plus a player option), a move that would further restrict the franchise’s future salary flexibility.
The interest is understandable: the Warriors need a jolt and see this move as a possible shortcut. Recent NBA history, however, suggests that championship teams follow well-structured development paths: the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and the Warriors dynasty itself.
Franchises built on a stable core, competitive from the first game of the Regular Season to the final whistle of the NBA Playoffs. What would a Giannis trade really bring to Golden State, beyond a wave of hype destined to inflate expectations for a season that, as of now, looks fragile?