What If Warriors Don't Get Giannis? Rumors on Andrew Wiggins, Trade Deadline Plans If Pursuit Fails
The Golden State Warriors are willing to move their future first-round draft picks ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but likely only as part of a potential trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, ESPN's Anthony Slater reported Thursday.
The three first-round picks the Warriors hold after Stephen Curry's contract expires in 2027 "would be available" in a potential deal for Antetokounmpo, according to Slater.
"If the Warriors don't acquire Antetokounmpo, there isn't anyone on the current trade market who will force this level of asset aggression from them, team sources said," Slater wrote.
The Warriors currently have four tradable first-rounders in 2026, 2028, 2032 and 2030, although the 2030 pick is only available if it falls at No. 20 or lower, Slater noted.
Slater's report comes after Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said last week the franchise's draft picks "always will and have been in play."
"To give up our picks, it's got to be meaningful to get something back. So, for that reason, there's only so many players out there that probably warrant putting stuff like that on the table," Dunleavy said (h/t NBC Sports' Monte Poole). "But we're looking at everything."
The Warriors have either not made progress or not been interested on other rumored trade pursuits outside Antetokounmpo, according to Slater.
Golden State has so far been "stonewalled" by the New Orleans Pelicans despite interest in Trey Murphy III, Slater reported.
According to Slater, team sources have also indicated the Warriors aren't planning a trade for the Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. or a reunion with the Miami Heat's Andrew Wiggins.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that Antetokounmpo "is ready for a new home" either ahead the trade deadline or over the offseason, and that the Bucks are "starting to listen" to offers.
The news came about a week and a half after Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL tear that called the Warriors' hopes of making a deep playoff run behind Curry and Draymond Green into question.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix previously reported that the Warriors have previously offered the Bucks a package featuring Butler, Jonathan Kuminga and draft picks.
If Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee or goes to another interested team— SNY's Ian Begley has reported the Heat and New York Knicks will be among his suitors— Slater writes that the Warriors "have voiced to Butler a plan to keep him despite the ACL tear."
Given what Slater described as the Pelicans' resistance to trading Murphy and the Warriors' lack of interest in Wiggins, it sounds like the Warriors could potentially stand pat at the deadline while hoping Butler returns for the final season of Curry's current contract and holding on to their first-round picks either for an eventual rebuild or a future trade.
