Golden State Warriors' Leg Up in Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes Revealed
The Golden State Warriors have a chance, however slim, of trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. Should the Milwaukee Bucks make him available, almost every team in the NBA is expected to put forward their best offer.
The San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Brooklyn Nets can offer the best draft-pick-based trade package for the Greek Freak, and any of those teams would become title favorites if they landed him.
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The Warriors don't have the ability to build a better trade package than any of those teams, although they do have one advantage.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) meet after the game at the Chase Center.© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Simply put, playing next to Stephen Curry is something Giannis has always wanted to do.
'There was a feeling that Giannis was very, very intrigued by the one day of being a teammate of Stephen Curry," Logan Murdock said. "There was at least a feeling that Giannis wanted to play with Steph in the very near future and be teammates. That was at least the impression that officials got during that soiree.'
While Antetokounmpo doesn't boast a no-trade clause, he can opt out of his contract after just two seasons, and if he makes it clear that he won't re-sign with the team that trades for him, his value will tank.
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Teams like the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets are not in the running for that very reason, and if he decides to force his way to Golden State, the Bucks will have only two options: oblige or keep him in town.
While Giannis is yet to even request a trade, the league is circling, waiting for any indication that he might want a change of scenery.
Check out the Inside the Warriors homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
Related: Golden State Warriors Land NBA Champion, Gold Medalist in Mock Trade
Related: Dwyane Wade Calls Out Warriors' Jimmy Butler After Playoff Struggles
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