Insider breaks down Giannis Antetokounmpo’s connection to Stephen Curry’s trade remarks

Stephen Curry and The Golden State Warriors are going through a tumultuous periodwhere change seems inevitable, but acting too quickly can be risky. Patience could serve them well, especially with the possibility of a blockbuster purchase on the horizon. The warriors had an eye Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo for a while they still retain their top trade assets, which they refused to part with during the offseason in other negotiations.

On The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN reporter Ohm Youngmisuk joined his colleagues to research which player would be the best complement the Warriors’ style of play. Giannis Antetokounmpo has emerged as a top contender, especially after his earlier remarks about leaving the Bucks if they fail to secure a championship.

Giannis Antetokounmpo heading to the bay?

With Milwaukee’s current struggles, their title hopes look dim this season, potentially opening the door for a trade that could send Greek Freika to Golden State.

The Golden State Warriors, on the other hand, are actively pursuing options to land a counterpart for Stephen Curry as he approaches the twilight of his career. Curry remains at an elite All-NBA level, and teaming him with a two-way powerhouse like Giannis Antetokounmpo would turn the Warriors into a formidable contender.

Facilitating such a trade is complex, however, as the Warriors must balance both salary and player value to accommodate the financial constraints imposed by the Bucks’ second-team status.

“If you only have so many assets, I hold them until a true franchise-changing superstar becomes available to take that momentum.” If you go and give some of this property now to Nikola Vucevic, Jimmy Butler, which I don’t think there is interest in Butler. But if they were to do that, then you can’t swing if things go bad in Milwaukee with Giannis this summer,” Youngmisuk noted.

Antetokounmpo, who earned $48,787,676 this season, is averaging 31.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists. His addition would transform the Warriors, providing a dominant interior offensive presence paired with elite all-around ability. Giannis’ playmaking skills would also allow him to serve as a passing center, giving Stephen Curry even more opportunities to excel off the ball.

“I think Golden State is uniquely positioned for someone like Giannis because of Steph’s friendship with Giannis, and Giannis has kind of hinted in the past that Bay might be intriguing to him with the Warriors,” he continued.

The Warriors are losing key young pieces

Acquiring Giannis would require the Warriors to potentially part with key pieces, including forward Andrew Wigginsrising talent Jonathan Cummings, promising rookie Brandin Podziemski, and recent addition De’Anthony Melton.

When asked about potential Warriors activity during the trade period, Stephen Curry said“Desperate trades or desperate moves that exhaust the future.” His remarks underscored displeasure with the franchise’s seemingly frantic attempts to acquire assets at the cost of sacrificing key pieces.

“I think that’s what he thinks, I think that’s what he and Steve Kerr and Draymond Green think, that you don’t give up the farm for somebody that’s not quite at that superstar level that’s going to make you guys compete for championships right away or championship down the line,” continued Jangmisuk.

Giannis remains under contract with the Bucks through the 2026-27 season, though a player option for next year could put pressure on Milwaukee to trade him if he asks to leave. By then, Giannis would be 33 years old, while Stephen Curry would be close to 39, and Draymond Green would be 37. That sounds more like old stars than champions.

Stephen Curry remains committed to achieving success with the Warriors, but he’s not willing to sacrifice the team’s future for short-term rewards. While his time with the franchise may be limited, his loyalty to the organization forces him to prioritize decisions that benefit the team in the long term — even if it requires patience.