The Golden State Warriors aren’t just window-shopping ahead of the trade deadline - they’re all-in on Giannis Antetokounmpo. And that singular focus has effectively shut the door on every other potential deal they were exploring, including one that flew well under the radar: a possible swap involving Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter.
According to league insiders, the Warriors had shown some level of interest in Hunter as part of their exploratory talks on smaller-scale trades. These discussions reportedly centered around forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose name has surfaced in trade chatter as Golden State looks to reshape its roster.
One intriguing wrinkle? Kuminga potentially reuniting with former Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, now on the Cavaliers' coaching staff.
But all of that - the Hunter talks, the Kuminga speculation - got pushed aside the moment Giannis became a real possibility.
Let’s back up for a second. Hunter, a former top-10 pick, has been a solid contributor since arriving in Cleveland a year ago.
But with the rise of rookie Jaylon Tyson and the Cavs’ desire to trim their payroll, the 28-year-old wing has become more expendable. His shooting has taken a hit this season - down to 30.8% from deep after a blistering 42.6% to close out last year - and while he’s still putting up 14 points, 4.2 boards, and 2.1 assists per game, his overall impact has dipped.
Through 50 games, he ranks just 13th on the team in plus-minus.
Still, Hunter brings value. He’s a versatile wing who can defend multiple positions, score at all three levels, and slide into a starting role if needed - a particularly relevant point for a Warriors team that just lost Jimmy Butler for the season.
No, Hunter’s not Butler. He doesn’t have that same alpha mentality or the ability to create offense for others at a high level.
But as a plug-and-play athlete with size, he would’ve made sense in Steve Kerr’s rotation.
Financially, Hunter’s contract - one year left at $24.9 million - would’ve kept Golden State flexible heading into the 2027 offseason. That’s not nothing for a team juggling luxury tax concerns and long-term cap strategy.
But again, none of that matters right now. The Warriors have tunnel vision, and the object in their sights is the two-time MVP in Milwaukee. Once Giannis hit the trade market, everything else - including any hypothetical Kuminga-for-Hunter swap - became background noise.
Golden State isn’t just trying to tinker around the edges. They’re chasing a transformational move. And as long as Giannis is even remotely attainable, that pursuit will continue to dominate every conversation in the Bay.