The Golden State Warriors have emerged from a tumultuous offseason, with Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency saga finally resolved, paving the way for the franchise to set its sights on a transformative goal: building a superteam around Stephen Curry to chase a fifth championship ring. With their roster now solidified, the Warriors are poised to make a seismic move in the NBA trade market, and all eyes are on a potential blockbuster deal that could bring Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Bay Area.
The Warriors, long known for their bold roster moves, are reportedly prepared to swing for the fences. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Golden State has an arsenal of trade assets at their disposal, including up to four first-round picks and multiple pick swaps spanning the next seven NBA drafts. Pairing these draft assets with Kuminga—a dynamic young talent with an annual salary exceeding $20 million—could form the foundation of a trade package enticing enough to land a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber.
“The Warriors should be thinking big if they want to give Stephen Curry a chance at another title, especially as he approaches his 38th birthday next season,” Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz wrote. “With Kuminga now under contract, alongside other promising young players and a treasure trove of draft picks, Golden State has the pieces to make a compelling offer for the two-time MVP if he signals any desire to leave Milwaukee.”
Antetokounmpo, who is entering the penultimate year of his $175 million contract, is widely expected to remain with the Bucks through the 2025-26 season. However, whispers of a potential trade request next offseason—when he could leverage his impending free agency to control his destination—have sparked speculation about his future. For Milwaukee, waiting until next summer could diminish Antetokounmpo’s trade value, as teams wary of his free agency intentions might hesitate to meet the Bucks’ asking price. Moving him before the NBA trade deadline in early February 2026 could be the Bucks’ best chance to maximize their return, particularly if they can secure Golden State’s draft capital, given the advancing ages of the Warriors’ core trio: Curry (37), Jimmy Butler (36), and Draymond Green (35).
However, executing a trade of this magnitude is no simple feat. The Warriors face significant hurdles due to their salary cap constraints and the NBA’s new apron rules, which impose strict limitations on teams exceeding certain payroll thresholds. Curry, Butler, and Green alone account for over 75% of the Warriors’ salary cap, leaving limited flexibility to match Antetokounmpo’s $58.5 million salary for the 2025-26 season. Kuminga’s $22.5 million salary, combined with those of Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and Brandin Podziemski—totaling $24 million—still falls approximately $12 million short of matching Antetokounmpo’s number.
To bridge this gap, the Warriors might need to include Green’s $25.9 million salary as filler or explore a multi-team trade involving a third organization willing to absorb Green’s contract. Such a deal could create the financial and logistical framework needed to bring Antetokounmpo to Golden State, uniting two of the NBA’s most decorated MVPs under one banner.
The prospect of Curry and Antetokounmpo joining forces is nothing short of electrifying. Curry, the greatest shooter in NBA history, paired with Antetokounmpo, a dominant force in the paint and a two-time MVP, could form a duo capable of reshaping the Western Conference landscape. With Butler’s defensive tenacity and playmaking, this revamped Warriors roster would be a nightmare for opponents, blending veteran savvy with Antetokounmpo’s prime athleticism.
Yet, the cost of such a deal would be steep. Sacrificing Kuminga, a rising star with immense potential as an on-ball creator, along with a significant portion of their draft future, represents a high-stakes gamble for Golden State. The Warriors would be betting on Antetokounmpo’s ability to elevate their championship ceiling in a hyper-competitive Western Conference, where teams like the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, and Phoenix Suns are already vying for supremacy.
For the Bucks, trading Antetokounmpo would signal a shift toward rebuilding, with Golden State’s draft picks providing a foundation for future success. The age of the Warriors’ core suggests those picks could yield high-value prospects in the coming years, making the deal an appealing option for Milwaukee if Antetokounmpo’s departure becomes inevitable.
As the NBA trade deadline looms, the Warriors are at a crossroads. Will they go all-in to pair Curry with Antetokounmpo, creating a superteam for the ages? Or will salary cap realities and the steep cost of such a deal force them to pursue more modest upgrades? One thing is certain: the mere possibility of this blockbuster trade has sent shockwaves through the league, igniting dreams of a new Warriors dynasty and setting the stage for a high-stakes drama that could redefine the NBA’s future.