The Golden State Warriors are no strangers to swinging big. And if the latest reports are any indication, they may be gearing up for one of their boldest moves yet.
According to multiple sources, the Warriors are among the most aggressive teams in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. That’s not just rumor mill chatter - owner Joe Lacob is reportedly a huge admirer of the 10-time All-Star, and there’s a growing belief inside the organization that Antetokounmpo is the kind of generational talent worth pushing all the chips in for.
Golden State’s front office appears to be in lockstep on this. The consensus?
If you’re going to mortgage future draft capital - especially picks that extend beyond the Stephen Curry era - it better be for a player who can anchor the franchise for the next decade. And Giannis fits that mold.
General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. didn’t name names, but he made the team’s philosophy crystal clear last week.
“If we’re talking about trading draft picks that will be going out when Steph isn’t here,” Dunleavy said, “it’s going to have to be a player that we think we’ll be getting back that is going to be here when those picks are going out. And that player’s going to have to be pretty impactful.”
Translation: If the Warriors are going to make a blockbuster move, it’s got to be for a transformational piece. Not just a star - a franchise cornerstone. And in today’s NBA, there are few players who check that box like Antetokounmpo.
Dunleavy added that the team is keeping its options open in terms of position and play style, but emphasized that if the right player becomes available, “we’ve got everything in the war chest that we would be willing to use.”
The Warriors may have to act fast. On NBA Countdown Friday night, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Golden State might currently have the best trade package on the table for Giannis - but that window could close quickly. Once the offseason hits and other teams gain access to additional assets, the Warriors’ leverage could slip.
“I think they have to be very aggressive,” Windhorst said. “They understand it - they are in the eye of this storm.
Because if they are going to make this move, they’re going to have to close, I really believe, by next Thursday. Their offer cannot really improve by the summer.”
That urgency adds another layer to what’s already shaping up to be a pivotal week for the franchise. A potential Giannis trade wouldn’t just reshape the Warriors’ present - it would redefine their future. We’re talking about a move that would alter the trajectory of the franchise for years to come.
Inside the locker room, veterans like Draymond Green are staying focused on the task at hand. While Green and Curry aren’t the type to push for trades, they’re usually kept in the loop when the front office is weighing major decisions.
“We’ve got a great team in this locker room,” Green said. “If a move is made, a move is made.
But that’s not our job, that’s not our place to sit and wait or worry about if a move is gonna be made. … We’re not chasing anything but greatness.
And you don’t chase greatness by whining about a roster. You chase greatness by embracing the roster that you have, getting the best out of every single guy, and that’s what we’ve done for years and that’s what we’re gonna continue to do.”
That’s classic Draymond - focused, unbothered, and all about the work. But behind the scenes, the Warriors’ decision-makers are clearly weighing their options.
Head coach Steve Kerr, who’s in daily contact with Dunleavy, says things are likely to go down to the wire ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
“What he told me the other day was that everything’s going to go ’til the last second,” Kerr said during an appearance on 95.7 The Game. “There literally hasn’t been a single thing where he’s called me and said, ‘So-and-so offered this or that.’
Not one thing. … It’s all speculation at this point.
It’s going to go down to the wire.”
So while fans are refreshing their feeds and watching for Woj bombs, the Warriors are playing the long game - but they know the clock is ticking.
Meanwhile, the front office is also keeping an eye on the future. Multiple executives, including Dunleavy and assistant GM Larry Harris, were spotted in New Zealand on Friday scouting NBL prospects Karim Lopez and Dash Daniels - both of whom are projected first-round picks. It’s a reminder that even as Golden State eyes a potential megadeal, they’re still doing their homework on the next wave of talent.
And then there’s the looming question about Steve Kerr’s future. The four-time championship coach is on an expiring contract and hasn’t committed to returning next season. Kerr says he’ll wait until the end of the year to make a decision - and it’ll depend on whether everyone in the organization is still aligned.
“Let’s wait until the end of the year and see if everybody’s aligned,” Kerr said. “If we are, then we’ll keep going.
If not, then we won’t. (It’ll depend) how the season ends, what the future looks like, all of that factors in.
And they, meaning Joe and management, they’ve got a lot to think about. It’s a really interesting time for the organization.”
That might be the understatement of the season. The Warriors are standing at a crossroads - one that could determine whether the dynasty gets a second wind or begins a full-scale transition into a new era.
Either way, the next few days are going to be fascinating.