After missing out on Paul George and Lauri Markkanen so far this offseason, the Golden State Warriors’ next blockbuster trade target isn’t too obvious at the moment.
The Warriors have retained their flexibility to be active in the trade market and are now hoping another All-Star caliber player becomes available in the next 12 months.
If you ask Golden State who their dream target would be, chances are they’ll say Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. That’s exactly what NBA legend Paul Pierce has also suggested, with the 10-time All-Star believing that adding Antetokounmpo is the only way for the Warriors to get back into the race.
“I mean, the only way I see Golden State getting back to where they need to get back is if they can find a way to get Giannis there.” Pierce said recently on Ticket & The Truth Show.
This isn’t the first time Antetokounmpo has been mentioned as a trade target for Golden State, with the two-time MVP’s dominant, hard-hitting style often seen as the perfect complement to the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry.
Speculation was rife that Curry was trying to recruit Antetokounmpo after a game between the Warriors and Bucks in 2020, while The Athletic called the 29-year-old Golden State’s dream rookie after missing out on LeBron James in February.
Antetokounmpo is under contract for another four years, making a move to the Warriors incredibly unlikely unless he directly requests a trade. That possibility will depend on Milwaukee’s ability to get back into contention next season after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons.
The eight-time All-Star was fourth in MVP voting last season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, but injury limited him to just three playoff appearances over the past two years.
The Warriors and 28 other teams are hoping things stay tough for the Bucks to open up the possibility of Antetokounmpo leaving, but that should still be considered a pipe dream given his loyalty to the franchise thus far.
