As the NBA trade deadline barrels toward us, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as a serious player in one of the league’s most seismic possibilities: a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to reports, Golden State has been the most aggressive team in pursuing the two-time MVP, and they’re not exactly tiptoeing around the idea - no one on the roster is reportedly untouchable.
That includes young talent, future picks, and perhaps even some of the core that helped build the Warriors' dynasty. Milwaukee Bucks GM Jon Horst is reportedly intrigued by what Golden State has to offer, particularly the youth movement that’s been brewing in the Bay. And while the Bucks have pushed back with counteroffers of their own - per ESPN’s Shams Charania - the clock is ticking toward February 5.
Now, whether a trade happens this week or in the offseason, one thing is clear: the rest of the Western Conference, and especially the Portland Trail Blazers, should be hoping this blockbuster never materializes.
A Giannis-Curry Duo? That’s a Problem for the West
Let’s start with the obvious - the West is already a gauntlet. Denver, Minnesota, OKC, and the Clippers are all legitimate threats, and that’s before you even get to the Warriors, who, despite their inconsistencies this season, are still hanging around the play-in picture. For the Blazers, who are trying to climb their way into that same mix, the idea of Golden State reloading with Giannis is the stuff of nightmares.
Steph Curry may be 37, Draymond Green’s best years are behind him, and Jimmy Butler (rumored to be on the Warriors’ radar at one point) has been banged up. It looked like the Warriors’ championship window was finally closing. But if they manage to land a 31-year-old Giannis - still very much in his prime - that window doesn’t just stay open, it gets reinforced and extended for another five years.
That’s bad news for every team in the West, but especially Portland.
Portland’s Missed Opportunity
The Blazers have had their eyes on Giannis too. Not because they expected to land him - he’s shown no real interest in coming to Portland - but because they could’ve played a role in facilitating a trade.
Remember, they’re sitting on a stash of Bucks draft picks from the Damian Lillard deal. That draft capital could’ve been their ticket to pulling in a secondary asset in a three-team swap.
Say Giannis had gone to Minnesota, for example. A player like Jaden McDaniels could’ve been in play for Portland - a young, ascending talent who fits their timeline. That’s the kind of move that helps a rebuilding team take a step forward.
But if Giannis ends up in Golden State? That door slams shut.
The Warriors have young pieces, but none that scream “must-have” for a team like Portland. Jonathan Kuminga has flashed potential but still carries question marks.
Brandin Podziemski has been steady, but he’s profiling more as a solid role player than a future star. There’s no clear prize for Portland to chase in a three-team structure here.
So not only would the West get even more top-heavy, but the Blazers would miss out on a real chance to improve their roster in the process.
A Lose-Lose for Rip City
This is the kind of scenario that leaves Portland boxed in. If Giannis lands with the Warriors, the Blazers are left watching a rival turn into a superteam again - and they don’t even get the consolation prize of an asset in return.
Sure, they’d still have those Bucks picks, but let’s be honest: if Milwaukee holds onto Giannis or gets a strong core back in a trade, those picks lose some of their shine. The Bucks have no reason to tank, and that limits the upside of Portland’s future assets.
The dream, of course, is Giannis in Portland. But that’s not happening.
So the next-best outcome? He stays put in Milwaukee - or at the very least, lands somewhere outside the Western Conference.
Because if the Warriors pull this off, the balance of power in the West shifts yet again. And for a young, developing Blazers squad trying to build something sustainable, that’s a mountain they don’t need to climb any steeper.