The Golden State Warriors are staring down a familiar crossroads - one that could define the final chapter of the Stephen Curry era. Despite swinging big at last season’s trade deadline by acquiring Jimmy Butler, the results haven’t quite matched the ambition. The team is hovering around .500 at 13-14, sitting eighth in the Western Conference, and struggling to find the kind of rhythm that once made them the NBA’s gold standard.
That’s why the whispers around Golden State potentially chasing another superstar - this time, Giannis Antetokounmpo - are starting to pick up steam. And honestly, it makes sense.
The Warriors have the ingredients to make a blockbuster move: young talent, future draft capital, and some sizable contracts that could be used to match salary in a deal. The question isn’t whether they can make a play for Giannis - it’s whether they’re willing to stomach what it might cost.
According to league insider John Hollinger, the Warriors have the assets to be serious players if Giannis becomes available. But to get a deal done, they’d likely have to include Draymond Green - the heartbeat of the Warriors' dynasty and a player whose value goes far beyond the box score.
Green is making $25.9 million this season and holds a player option for $27.7 million next year. Including him in a trade would be essential to meet the financial requirements of a deal, especially given Golden State’s position above the first tax apron.
Here’s how a possible package could look: three first-round picks, Jonathan Kuminga - whose development has been one of the few bright spots in a rocky season - and either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody, both of whom have seen their roles shrink lately. That’s a hefty haul, but it might not even be enough if other teams, like the Houston Rockets, decide to enter the fray with their own treasure chests of assets.
But let’s say the Warriors do pull it off. A trio of Giannis, Curry, and Butler would be absolutely terrifying on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, Curry’s gravity, Butler’s versatility, and Giannis’ sheer dominance in transition and the paint would be a nightmare to defend. Defensively, Giannis and Butler could take on the toughest assignments, easing the burden on Curry and allowing Steve Kerr to get creative with his schemes.
Still, moving on from Draymond - the emotional engine of this team, the guy who’s been side-by-side with Curry through every high and low - would be a seismic decision. He’s more than a contract number; he’s a culture-setter, a defensive anchor, and a trusted voice in the locker room. Trading him would mark the end of an era, even if it’s in service of extending another.
But for a front office that has made it clear its top priority is giving Curry another legitimate shot at a title, the calculus may be shifting. Curry’s still playing at an elite level, but time waits for no one - not even a generational shooter. If Giannis becomes available and expresses interest in teaming up with Curry, the Warriors owe it to themselves, and to their franchise cornerstone, to explore every option.
Championship windows don’t stay open forever. But sometimes, with the right move, you can pry them back open - even just long enough for one more run.