Analyst dismisses Warriors’ Chances on landing Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Warriors still possess several future draft picks that could attract the Bucks or other teams, but NBA insider Jake Fischer all but dismissed their chances of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this week.

“At this point in time I don’t really see how Golden State has the salary, has the players, has the draft capital to compete especially for Giannis if he were to hit the open market as a trade candidate,” Fischer said in his appearance in Bleacher Report’s Insider Notebook.

A few weeks ago, Antetokounmpo noted that he couldn’t recall a meeting with Bucks governor Wes Edens, where he reportedly committed his future to the team. Still, despite the recent speculation, he never hinted at wanting a trade.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Warriors star?

The 9x All-Star has long been a dream trade target for the Warriors and many other teams across the league, but they’ll all face intense competition if one of the world’s top players ever becomes available.

From Golden State’s perspective, matching salaries would be nearly as tough as parting with draft picks, given the challenge of reaching the $54.1 million Antetokounmpo is set to earn this season.

Golden State improved its midseason trade flexibility by locking in Jonathan Kuminga on a two-year, $48.5 million contract, yet that amount still falls short of what’s required to match Giannis Antetokounmpo’s salary. The tough reality is that the Warriors would likely need to trade Jimmy Butler or, more feasibly, longtime cornerstone Draymond Green to make the financials work.

A package built around Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, or even Jimmy Butler along with several draft picks might be the strongest offer Golden State could put forward, yet Jake Fischer believes that still may not move the needle. Of course, none of this matters unless Antetokounmpo actually demands a trade, and for now, all eyes are on how the Bucks open the season following an offseason filled with change and uncertainty.