Posted on by

This trade between the Bucks and the Warriors would destroy the NBA and create a new superteam

This trade between the Bucks and the Warriors would destroy the NBA and create a new superteam

The Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors are both aging contenders coming off disappointing seasons. The Dubs couldn’t even make the postseason in the West. Milwaukee was the No. 3 seed behind MVP-caliber regular-season player Giannis Antetokounmpo, but a first-round exit to the Indiana Pacers left pressing questions about the future.

Damian Lillard should push this Bucks team over the top. He made a name for himself, but injuries were a constant battle and he noticeably went downhill. Milwaukee’s other core pieces, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, are also on the decline. Giannis is 29 years old, but those championship windows are closing quickly. He might be getting impatient if the Bucks can’t keep up with Boston and the Eastern Conference heavyweights this season.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is “wishful thinking” throughout the league in the hope that Giannis might decide to forcefully retire. He’s under contract through 2026-27, but Giannis has what it takes to force his way to a new team if the Bucks implode. Although he loves Milwaukee very much, Giannis has intentionally left the door open for his departure in the event that his personal ambitions no longer align with the Bucks’ competitive schedule.

It’s still too early to rule out the Bucks as a contender with so much established talent, but Doc Rivers is constantly overrated as a coach, Dame may be in a complete downward spiral right now, and the Bucks’ supporting cast is woefully low on young, rotation-quality pieces, um to develop and build them in the long term. Milwaukee doesn’t have all the draft picks after the Dame trade and cap space is a distant memory at this point. Your flexibility to meaningfully improve the squad is limited. So another bad season (or half-season) could be enough to make Giannis nervous.

This is where Golden State comes into play. The Warriors spent the summer trying to add All-Star talent to the wing but failed. Paul George and Lauri Markkanen ultimately proved too costly for the front office’s tastes, but Giannis is a true two-time MVP. He’s on another level. There will be no argument about keeping Jonathan Kuminga out of the trade if Giannis becomes available.

So here’s what it would take to get Antetokounmpo to the Bay.

Subscribe to The WhiteboardFanSided’s daily basketball-themed email newsletter. If you like The Whiteboard, share it with a friend! If you don’t like the whiteboard, share it with an enemy!

Warriors-Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry to Golden State

Of course, the Bucks would also receive most (if not all) of the Warriors’ tradeable first-round picks. Giannis probably has the highest trade value in the league when factoring in age, two-way impact and durability. The Warriors are downplaying their depth to make this trade work – Milwaukee can’t add up salaries as a second frontcourt team, making this trade very complicated – but if that’s what it takes to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry together, then so be it his It.

In one fell swoop, the Warriors are probably the favorites to emerge from a turbulent Western Conference. Both Steph and Giannis have won at the highest level and so have their skills extremely complementary. Golden State would have to work overtime to perfect the supporting cast with the following moves, but Trayce Jackson-Davis, Moses Moody, Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and many established pieces at the rotation level remain behind. The Dubs would quickly find new and creative ways to beat up opponents on offense.

The biggest concern would be injuries — Golden State wouldn’t have much to stay afloat if one of the All-Stars got hurt, for example — but there’s no big reward without a big risk to begin with. The Warriors understand the benefits of overwhelming teams with a dynamic system and unmatched star power. Giannis and Steph would break brains And defenses.

As far as the Bucks go, it’s a good loot with which to start the next chapter. Draymond will likely be moved to a third team for additional draft capital and young talent, while Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and Jonathan Kuminga are all considered long-term starters. Aside from Kuminga, who is due a big rookie extension next summer, the Bucks also gain major financial relief and flexibility from this trade.

It’s hard to imagine the Dubs losing Klay Thompson and Draymond Green within a few months of each other, but the NBA is a business. If the chance to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo arises, the Warriors would be foolish not to take advantage of the opportunity – especially if Giannis shows a preference for the Bay, as he will certainly have control over his next destination.