The Golden State Warriors are hoping to maximize the last years of Stephen Curry's NBA career and the best way to do it would be by landing another superstar. As for who the Warriors might go after, The Athletic's Sam Amick stated on The TK Show, that Giannis Antetokounmpo is a name to monitor in 2025.
“One that I think is just always gonna be monitored around the NBA is if the wheels fall off the Bucks,” Amick said. “We know that Joe Lacob has had dreams of Giannis coming the Warriors’ way for a very long time. Again, unlikely, but Khris Middleton is gonna be a free agent next summer… I think Giannis is worth monitoring.”
Antetokounmpo could think of asking out if the Milwaukee Bucks do have another disappointing season. The Bucks have failed to get out of the first round in each of the last two campaigns and another early exit might lead to the two-time MVP considering his options.
The problem I see for the Warriors, though, is that they just don't have a lot of valuable assets to trade. The earliest that Antetokounmpo can hit free agency is 2027 by declining a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, so no one is getting him for pennies on the dollar.
If you put Curry aside, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski are the only Warriors players I see who have real value on the trade market, but, at this point, I don't think either of these two is guaranteed to be a star in the future. If Kuminga and Podziemski take some big leaps in 2024-25, then maybe the two of them and some draft picks might be enough to land Antetokounmpo, but that's a big if.
If the Warriors do somehow manage to land Giannis in 2025, they will turn into serious title contenders. The eight-time All-Star averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in 2023-24 and remains one of the very best players in the NBA.
Put Antetokoumpo alongside Curry, who averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in 2023-24, and you get the best duo in the NBA. If the Warriors manage to put a solid supporting cast around them too, they'd be instant title favorites.
Will The Bucks Crash And Burn In 2024-25?
Any talk of Antetokounmpo landing with the Warriors hinges on the Bucks crashing and burning in 2024-25, so will they? Well, I'd say their season will be defined by Damian Lillard and Doc Rivers.
I have no doubts that Antetokounmpo is going to shine on the court once again next season, but one of the big questions is how well is Lillard going to play. The star guard struggled in his first season with the Bucks, as he averaged 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, and shot 42.4% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc.
Rivers is the other big piece to look at here, as the team struggled after he took over as head coach midway through last season. If these two can bounce back, then the Bucks will be just fine. There are reasons to believe that they can turn things around too.
Lillard had to make a big adjustment last season as he was playing alongside a superstar like Antetokounmpo for the first time in his career. He now has a season under his belt next to Giannis and with some off-the-court issues seemingly behind him too, perhaps he will return to form.
As for Rivers, he gets to have a training camp with this group and that should at least help matters a little bit. I am not the biggest fan of Doc, but he isn't a terrible coach and the Bucks should be better under him next season. So, I don't think they are going to crash and burn, as things stand.
