If the 2023 offseason is going to be remembered for anything, it’s likely as the summer of the trade request. Since the very start of free agency, the narrative around the league has been dominated by unrequited trade requests by the likes of James Harden and Damian Lillard.
In contrast to the telemarketer approach of Lillard’s camp, or the scorched-earth approach of Harden, another superstar has begun to whisper at what would happen if his current team doesn’t maintain a contender. In contrast to the other players on the trade block, this superstar looks like a tantalizing addition to the Golden State Warriors.
That player is two-time MVP and 2021 NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo. He and the Milwaukee Bucks fell in the first-round of the playoffs last season, and while the Bucks worked this summer to bring back their veteran core, Antetokounmpo is clearly concerned that they may not maintain a contender around him forever.
Could the Golden State Warriors trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
If the Bucks have a poor start to the season, and Antetokounmpo communicates to the Bucks that he wants to move to a contender, is there a scenario where they start fielding trade offers? Perhaps not; the second-best player in franchise history is not going to be moved at a moment’s notice.
Let’s just assume for a moment that they do reach that point; can the Warriors present a deal that the Bucks would make? And is the cost too great for Golden State?