The Golden State Warriors missed on Giannis Antetokounmpo at the February 2026 trade deadline, but a new — and quite creative — pathway toward landing a true defensive anchor with offensive versatility has emerged thanks to owner Joe Lacob’s dual ownership of both the NBA Warriors and the newly admitted WNBA franchise Golden State Valkyries.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (February 10, 2026), Lacob is aggressively targeting A’ja Wilson — the four-time WNBA MVP, three-time champion, and current face of the Las Vegas Aces — as soon as WNBA free agency opens (delayed due to ongoing CBA negotiations and lockout risk).
Why this matters for the Warriors’ NBA roster:
Wilson is in a long-term relationship with Bam Adebayo — the three-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA defender, and long-time Warriors target.Siegel’s sources indicate Adebayo has been on Golden State’s radar for over a year — and he maintains a close relationship with Jimmy Butler (now injured and on the Warriors’ books).
The idea: if Wilson signs with the Valkyries, it could create personal and lifestyle incentives for Adebayo to push for a trade to the Warriors — allowing the couple to be in the same city long-term.
Why Adebayo Fits the Warriors’ Needs Perfectly
Elite defensive anchor (multiple-time All-Defense, DPOY candidate level rim protection and versatility).Strong offensive skill set (mid-post scoring, face-up game, passing out of short roll, 80%+ FT shooter).Proven winner and leader — exactly what Golden State needs to complement Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and a returning Kristaps Porziņģis.
Adebayo is under contract for three more seasons after this one (with a 2028-29 player option) on a $161 million extension — $49.8 million salary in 2026-27.
How a Trade Could Work
To match salaries and make a deal feasible, the Warriors would likely need to include:
Draymond Green (expiring $25.3 million in 2025-26, but with player option and trade value as a playmaking defender).Kristaps Porziņģis (expiring $30.7 million — only via sign-and-trade if he re-signs, or if dealt before free agency).
Miami could extract significant draft capital from Golden State (Warriors had four first-round picks + swaps at the deadline and will have even more opening up this summer). The Heat could then flip that capital in a separate pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo — who publicly listed Miami among his preferred destinations.
Adebayo and Giannis have some positional/skill-set redundancy (both high-IQ bigs who defend multiple positions), but Miami could view it as worth it to stack assets for a Giannis run.
Challenges & Realism Check
Miami’s stance — Adebayo is their franchise cornerstone. A trade would require him requesting out (unlikely unless he feels stuck).
Warriors’ leverage — They have draft capital and expiring deals, but matching $49.8M+ salary is tricky without gutting the roster.
WNBA angle — Wilson to Valkyries is speculative (she’s still under contract with Las Vegas), but Lacob’s dual ownership creates a unique personal incentive that doesn’t exist for most teams.
It’s a long-shot, creative scenario — but not impossible. If the Warriors can’t land Giannis this summer and still want one last big swing for Curry’s window, Adebayo becomes a high-floor, high-ceiling target.
Warriors fans — would you give up Green + Porziņģis + picks for Bam Adebayo? Or is the WNBA connection too far-fetched to matter? And do you think Miami would ever trade their cornerstone? Drop your thoughts below — this offseason could get wild.