Warriors Trade Deadline: Biggest Questions Facing the Team

WITHIN 24 HOURS OF Jimmy Butler‘s franchise-altering ACL tear, Golden State ‍Warriors general manager mike Dunleavy⁣ admitted that the team’s new reality meant an altered approach⁣ could be necessary ⁣at ⁤the upcoming​ trade ⁢deadline.

“Maybe the parameters have changed,” Dunleavy said. “Maybe the goalposts have moved.”

One ​of the key ⁢roster-building ⁤checkpoints on⁤ the NBA​ calendar is one week away. In​ advance of the Feb.5 trade ⁤deadline, the Warriors have several questions to answer, begining with the‌ ramifications of ⁣Butler’s‍ injury.

In the days ‍since, team sources have ​described⁢ their approach as more‍ future focused. With Butler in the ‍lineup, they were exploring smaller-scale upgrades, attempting⁣ to use Jonathan Kuminga‘s $22.5 million salary to boost a surging team they believed was a fringe contender.

Realistic contention evaporated when Butler went down,reducing the front office’s appetite to spend an asset‌ for ‌a strictly win-now swing. It’s feasible they find a deal that raises‌ the ceiling ⁢of this season’s team, but their focus is on better setting up the ‌roster to enter‌ the contention conversation‌ for 2026-27 and beyond.

The Warriors’ prime target⁤ is the same dream name⁣ that‍ has​ been on their radar for nearly a decade: ⁣ Giannis Antetokounmpo. The big difference now‍ is that Milwaukee’s‍ door appears to finally be cracked open. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported⁣ on Wednesday that Bucks general manager Jon ⁤Horst has recently ‌become willing to ‌entertain the conversation.

What can the Warriors offer for‍ Giannis?

League ‌sources ⁢told ESPN that the Warriors have contacted the Bucks ‌in the past ⁢week ⁢and expressed their firm interest in Antetokounmpo and ‌their willingness⁢ to put a substantial⁤ offer on the table irrespective of⁣ his calf⁣ strain and undetermined return timetable.

It’s unclear if Antetokounmpo would consider the Warriors on his‌ wish list. But his desires, ​like any superstar ⁤soon to be extension ⁢eligible, matter within ⁢the conversation. A deadline trade for ‌ Kevin Durant ⁣last February fell ⁢through after Durant ⁢made iSeveral teams have made aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for star Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware) ‍– have superior young‍ or mid-prime players to offer the Bucks. But Milwaukee has shown an interest in ⁤Kuminga dating to the summer, league sources said, and he would be viewed as an ‍upside swing on​ a controllable ‌contract as part of the return package.

Third-year guard ⁢ Brandin‌ Podziemski could also help nudge ‌the needle, league sources said. The‌ Milwaukee native is under contract next season at $5.7 million, the final year of his ⁣rookie contract. To help salary ⁤match, the Warriors⁣ could also absorb one of ‍Milwaukee’s‌ other‍ veterans‌ owed ‍long-term‍ money, such as Bobby ⁢Portis ​ (three ‍years, $43.5 million ⁢remaining) or‌ Kyle Kuzma (two years, $42.7 million remaining).