With NBA trade season now officially starting, the Golden State Warriors should be active and looking for upgrades. At the moment, they clearly don't have enough to make the playoffs and should be all in on upgrading their roster via trade.
They have been linked to several players, most notably Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis would be a dream trade target for the Warriors, and they do have the assets needed to make that happen, though it will cost them either Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green in a potential blockbuster.
Even so, they'd be acquiring one of the three best players in the NBA, and that doesn't happen often. Not only that, but Steph Curry is still playing at an extremely high level, and pairing them along with Butler could help the Warriors contend this season.
Warriors now have perfect trade package to steal Giannis from Bucks
ESPN recently proposed the framework of a possible trade in which both Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo would be sent to Golden State. Meanwhile, the Bucks would get Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Buddy Hield.
They would also receive a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick (if 1 through 20), and a 2032 first-round pick. That sounds about right for Giannis in terms of value, even with teams reportedly wary about giving up multiple firsts in a trade.
If the Warriors are willing to move Green, which is a big if, but not impossible according to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer' and four firsts, then they could very well end up with Giannis. They would have to weigh the long-term ramifications of trading a franchise legend and four picks. But to win now, Golden State would have to mortgage the future to do so.
The Warriors may have enough to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Warriors would also turn Kuminga, who is probably a negative value, into a player used to land a top-3 superstar. That would be like turning water into wine.
It would cost them most of their remaining picks. However, with Curry still playing like a superstar and Giannis possibly having three or four more years left playing at a high level, the time is now for the Warriors to dump all of their chips on the table.
If they do so, then they would be going all-in to make one last championship run.