If the Golden State Warriors manage to pull off the unthinkable - landing Giannis Antetokounmpo before the February trade deadline - the entire NBA landscape could shift overnight.
Picture this: Giannis, Steph Curry, and potentially Jimmy Butler all wearing Warriors jerseys. That’s not just a big three - that’s a basketball supernova.
The Curry-Giannis Dream Becomes Reality?
Fans have been toying with the idea of a Curry-Giannis pairing for years. It’s the kind of hypothetical that keeps front offices up at night.
On one hand, you’ve got the most lethal shooter the game has ever seen. On the other, one of the most physically dominant forces to ever step on a court.
If that duo becomes a reality, the Warriors wouldn’t just be back in the title conversation - they’d be making noise at the top.
Even with Curry pushing 38, he’s still playing at an elite level - comfortably a top-10, maybe even top-8 player in the league. Add in Giannis, who’s consistently in the MVP conversation, and you’ve got a foundation that rivals any in the league.
Could Jimmy Butler Stay Too?
Here’s where things get even more interesting. There’s a scenario in which Jimmy Butler doesn’t have to be part of the outgoing package to Milwaukee. That’s no guarantee - the Bucks would understandably want a competitive return for a two-time MVP - but Golden State has enough assets to at least open the door.
Think Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, a war chest of future draft picks, and possibly young talents like Brandin Podziemski or Moses Moody. That’s a hefty offer, and depending on how Milwaukee views their timeline, it might be enough to get a deal done while keeping Butler in the Bay.
If the Warriors manage to hold on to Butler, you’re looking at a trio that could instantly become the best in the league - even in a Western Conference stacked with talent.
The Spacing Question - and Why It Might Not Matter
Now, let’s talk fit. Giannis and Butler aren’t exactly known for their perimeter shooting, and spacing could be a concern in certain lineups.
But when you have Curry on the floor, spacing tends to take care of itself. His gravity alone opens up lanes and forces defenses to make impossible choices.
If Golden State surrounds that core with smart shooters and floor-spacers - and they’ve historically done a good job of that - the spacing concerns become more of a footnote than a fatal flaw.
Money Talks - But So Does Timing
With the current CBA, it’s rare to see three players each making $50 million or more on the same roster. The Phoenix Suns have shown just how tricky that can be.
But the Warriors’ situation is a little different. Curry and Butler are both heading into the final years of their deals, and there’s a world where one or both take less to keep the band together.
That financial flexibility - even if temporary - gives Golden State a window to chase one more title while the core is still capable of elite-level play.
No Guarantees, But Plenty of Intrigue
Let’s be clear: even with Giannis, the Warriors wouldn’t automatically leapfrog the Thunder, Nuggets, or even the surging Rockets as title favorites. Oklahoma City, in particular, deserves real respect for the team they’ve built. But adding Giannis - and possibly Butler - would turn every Warriors playoff series into must-see TV.
The West is already a gauntlet. A Warriors team with Giannis and Curry (and maybe Butler) makes it even more brutal - and a lot more fun.
The Pitch to Giannis
If the Warriors get the chance to sit down with Giannis and his agent in the coming weeks, the message should be clear: this is your shot to form a legacy-defining trio. Curry.
Giannis. Butler.
Three stars with different skill sets, all with the same goal.
Golden State has the pedigree. They have the infrastructure. And if the front office can pull the right strings, they might just have the firepower to build the league’s next great superteam.
The clock’s ticking. February is coming fast. And if the Warriors want to make one last championship push in the Curry era, this might be their best - and boldest - shot.