Could the Warriors Reunite with Andrew Wiggins in a Giannis Mega-Deal?
The Golden State Warriors are no strangers to big swings, and while they may not be in the driver’s seat for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster, they could still find themselves right in the middle of the action. Not as the team landing the two-time MVP, but as a strategic third-party facilitator-and in the process, they just might bring back a familiar face.
According to a recent trade proposal making the rounds, Golden State could help grease the wheels on a massive three-team deal involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat-one that sends Antetokounmpo to South Beach and brings Andrew Wiggins back to the Bay.
Let’s break it down from the Warriors’ perspective:
Warriors Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Dru Smith
Warriors Send Out: Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Trayce Jackson-Davis, 2026 lottery-protected first-round pick
It’s a bold move, no doubt. Golden State only just moved on from Wiggins in February’s headline-grabbing deal for Jimmy Butler. But this scenario offers a chance to bring the 2022 All-Star back into a system where he thrived-and it could help stabilize a rotation still searching for consistency.
Wiggins was a key cog in the Warriors' 2022 championship run, carving out a niche as a defensive anchor on the wing and a low-maintenance offensive option who didn’t need touches to impact the game. That’s the kind of presence Golden State hasn’t quite replicated since his departure. Jonathan Kuminga has shown flashes, but hasn’t consistently delivered the same mix of defensive reliability and off-ball savvy.
And while Warriors owner Joe Lacob might understandably bristle at playing a supporting role in a trade that sends a generational talent like Giannis elsewhere, this isn’t about pride-it’s about pragmatism. Golden State needs to get better now, and Wiggins, for all the ups and downs of his career, is a known quantity in this system.
The addition of Dru Smith is more of a depth play, but the real focus here is Wiggins. Slotting him back into a lineup alongside Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler gives the Warriors a more balanced, defense-first wing rotation.
He wouldn’t be asked to carry the scoring load-just to defend, rebound, and knock down open looks. That’s the role he excelled in during the title run, and it’s one Golden State could use right now.
Of course, this isn’t the kind of trade that vaults the Warriors back into title-favorite territory on its own. But it does make them better, and importantly, it preserves enough draft capital to keep the door open for another move down the line. That flexibility is key for a franchise trying to walk the tightrope between competing now and planning for the future.
Losing Kuminga would sting-he’s still just scratching the surface of his potential-but the Warriors are in win-now mode, and Wiggins is a plug-and-play piece who fits their timeline and style. Trayce Jackson-Davis has shown promise, and Buddy Hield brings shooting, but neither is irreplaceable in the long term.
There’s also the emotional side of this. Wiggins was a fan favorite during the championship run, and his return would bring a sense of familiarity and cohesion that’s hard to manufacture midseason. Chemistry matters, especially for a team with as many moving parts as the current Warriors.
So while this might not be the blockbuster that lands another superstar in the Bay, it’s a deal that makes basketball sense. And in a season where every marginal gain could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit, that’s more than enough reason to pick up the phone.