Apr 29, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Unfortunate Truth on Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade to Warriors

Originally posted on Golden State Warriors on SI
By Grant Mona | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), teams are finding it increasingly complex to navigate the salary cap and retain key assets. The Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics are among the teams over the second-apron, which prevents aggregating salaries to acquire players and signing buyout candidates.

REPORT - The Warriors “want” Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @BrettSiegelNBA. pic.twitter.com/i1Q5aJNPYU
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 3, 2025

The Warriors and Bucks find themselves in a better situation, but one that does not bode well for their future. The Warriors are consistently in the luxury tax and would likely be a second-apron team if they were to acquire a major superstar. The Bucks are in a situation where they have very little future draft capital, so they would need to recoup those assets with their aging and highly paid roster.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been linked to the Warriors this offseason by many, but ESPN NBA salary cap expert and insider Bobby Marks does not believe a deal could happen between the Warriors and Bucks.

"It's extremely difficult to go out and get Giannis if you're Golden State, unless you want to trade [Jimmy] Butler or [Draymond] Green," Marks said.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says the Golden State Warriors have the proper assets to land Giannis Antetokounmpo if he requests a trade out of Milwaukee.

Windhorst mentions Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, other players & picks, as a crop of assets available.

What would it… pic.twitter.com/kvhfChKujy
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) May 19, 2025

Given Antetokounmpo's salary, it would be very unlikely to strike a deal that did not include a new co-star to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, or longtime teammate Draymond Green.

Antetokounmpo will be entering the second year of the three-year, $175.3 million extension he signed in October 2023, and his salary for the 2025-2026 season is approximately $54.1 million. If the Warriors want to make a splash, it would have to include massive salaries in return that satisfy NBA trade rules.

This article first appeared on Golden State Warriors on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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