Giannis Antetokounmpo was the name on everyone’s lips as the NBA trade deadline approached. The two-time MVP and cornerstone of the Milwaukee Bucks found himself at the heart of trade rumors, with reports suggesting both he and the franchise were open to a potential split. For a player of Giannis’ caliber, that kind of news sends shockwaves across the league.
The Bucks haven’t exactly surrounded Antetokounmpo with a championship-caliber supporting cast in recent years, and that’s opened the door for speculation about his future in Milwaukee. Enter the Golden State Warriors - a team that’s no stranger to making bold moves and chasing stars when the opportunity presents itself. After losing Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL in January, Golden State was viewed as a serious contender in the Giannis sweepstakes.
But the deal never materialized.
Instead, the Warriors pivoted. On Wednesday night, they pulled off a significant trade of their own, acquiring 7-foot-2 big man Kristaps Porzingis in a deal that sent Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks. Porzingis may not be Antetokounmpo, but he's a unique talent in his own right - a floor-spacing center with shot-blocking ability and offensive versatility that could complement Stephen Curry’s game nicely.
Speaking of Curry, the franchise’s longtime leader offered a calm, grounded perspective in the aftermath of the trade deadline. When asked about the Warriors missing out on Giannis, Curry kept it short and sweet:
“At the end of the day, nobody got him,” he told ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
That’s the kind of leadership Golden State has come to expect from Curry - measured, focused, and never caught up in the frenzy. He’s right, too.
Despite all the buzz, no team landed Giannis. The Bucks held firm, and the superstar forward remains in Milwaukee - at least for now.
For the Warriors, there's no need for panic. Sure, adding a generational talent like Antetokounmpo would’ve been a seismic move.
But when the dust settled, no one else pulled it off either. And Golden State didn’t walk away empty-handed.
Porzingis brings size, skill, and a new dynamic to a roster that still features one of the greatest point guards the league has ever seen.
Now, the attention shifts to the summer. Will the Warriors circle back and make another run at Giannis?
That remains to be seen. But for now, they’ve made a move that strengthens their core, and they’ve done it without mortgaging their future.
In a league where stars often shift the balance of power, the Warriors may have missed on the biggest fish - but they’re still swimming strong.