The Golden State Warriors have spent months rebuilding around uncertainty. Steve Kerr is back on a two-year deal. Stephen Curry remains the centerpiece. But the playoff picture told a hard truth this season. Without Curry healthy and Jimmy Butler sidelined by a torn ACL, the roster was exposed in ways that scouts around the league took notice of.
Sunday’s draft lottery gave Golden State the 11th overall pick. It was a small but meaningful piece of information for an organization with bigger ambitions this summer. The offseason is just beginning. And the Warriors are already zeroing in on a target.
Warriors Firmly in the Giannis Sweepstakes
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks have officially opened trade discussions around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee’s asking price remains consistent with what they sought at the February deadline: a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks. The Bucks want a resolution before the draft on June 23.
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Golden State is engaged. Warriors insider Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area described the organization as having their “nose pressed to the window” when it comes to the possibility of landing Antetokounmpo. The desire is real and has been for years. With the Bucks now formally making him available, that window feels closer than ever.
The Warriors hold the 11th pick and could realistically package up to four future first-round picks in an offer. In one of the deepest draft classes in recent memory, back-to-back selections carry genuine appeal for a rebuilding Milwaukee front office.
Yet the buzz comes with perspective. As NBA Base noted, citing Poole, the Warriors are “hyperventilating” over the possibility, but a deal remains unlikely.
The Honest Reality of the Warriors’ Position
Desire is one thing. The package is another.
Golden State’s cupboard beyond draft picks is relatively thin. Brandin Podziemski is their most intriguing young piece — a Milwaukee-area native with real upside — but league scouts have not projected him as a franchise cornerstone. Moses Moody had a breakout season before his own injury. Gui Santos and Will Richard round out a young group that has shown promise without yet generating the kind of buzz that typically moves a franchise player like Antetokounmpo.
The competition is fierce. The Miami Heat can offer a combination of draft assets alongside young contributors. The New York Knicks, a destination Antetokounmpo has expressed interest in, could put multiple rotation starters on the table. Minnesota, Boston, and Cleveland are all expected to show varying levels of interest depending on how deep their playoff runs go.
Antetokounmpo’s preferred destination will ultimately carry significant weight. He is essentially on an expiring deal, with next season guaranteed before a player option in 2027. That leverage means he can steer his landing spot, and any team acquiring him would need confidence he would sign a long-term extension.
What It Would Mean for the Curry Window
Pairing Antetokounmpo with Curry would immediately restore Golden State as a championship contender and solve the roster depth problem in one move. At 31, Giannis remains one of the five best players in basketball. This season, he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 36 games before injuries shut him down.
But the risk is real. Antetokounmpo has missed significant time over the last several seasons. The Warriors would be trading future assets for a player whose durability is a legitimate question. And if Butler is moved this offseason as reported, Golden State would be betting the next chapter almost entirely on Curry and Antetokounmpo staying healthy together.
That is a compelling vision. It is also a significant gamble for an organization that cannot afford to get this wrong.
Final Word
The Bucks have opened the door. The Warriors are standing right outside it.
Whether Golden State can actually get in depends on factors beyond their control — including what Antetokounmpo wants and what rival teams put on the table. Their pick arsenal is real. Their young talent is thin.
The opportunity is there. The path is narrow.
Curry is not getting any younger. Neither is the window.