Latest Giannis Trade Rumors on Warriors' Pursuit, Steph Curry, 'Untouchable' Players in NBA Talks
The Golden State Warriors might be willing to put every asset but one on the table in a potential trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
NBC Sports' Monte Poole reported Friday "the general assumption" among team sources is that Stephen Curry is "the only untouchable" in a potential trade for Antetokounmpo.
According to Poole, the Warriors are making "a compelling" pitch to the Bucks while being "ready to give up a whole lot" to make an Antetokounmpo trade happen.
Golden State is competing against at least five other teams with "sincere interest" in a deal, Poole noted.
The rise in trade interest surrounding Antetokounmpo, who is currently sidelined with a calf injury, comes after ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Bucks are "starting to listen" to offers for their star player.
Charania initially listed the Warriors as one of the "serious suitors" for Antetokounmpo alongside the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
ESPN's Bobby Marks wrote Wednesday he felt the Warriors had the easiest path to trading for Antetokounmpo out of the teams likely to make a deal.
The Warriors can trade a maximum of four first-round picks in 2026, 2028, 2030 (if within the top 20 picks) and 2032, per Marks.
Marks wrote, however, that adding either Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler to draft capital will be necessary in order to match salary in a potential deal.
Antetokounmpo is playing under a $54.1 million cap hit this season, similar to Jimmy Butler's cap hit, per Spotrac.
Draymond Green is costing the Warriors about $25.9 million this season, but adding other contracts like Jonathan Kuminga's $22.5 million deal could help match.
Marks proposed that the Warriors could offer up Butler, Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and their first-round picks, although he noted that trade would likely involve sending a player like Bobby Portis or Kyle Kuzma the other way in order to match salary.
Butler will be sidelined for the near future amid his ongoing recovery from the season-ending torn ACL he suffered earlier this month.
The Bucks' willingness to wait for Butler's return, as well as what other teams like the Heat, Knicks and Timberwolves are offering as rival packages, could impact the Warriors' chances of landing Antetokounmpo ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
