It would be a match made in heaven, but the Golden State Warriors don’t have enough to draw in Giannis Antetokounnmpo.
Fans of the Golden State Warriors have quietly been anticipating the arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo. All of the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit good enough for anybody to convince themselves that the franchise can pull off another generational signing only a few years after they made history with Kevin Durant.
While there is definitely a twisted path in which Giannis packs his bags and heads to Golden State, the likelihood of this happening is decreasing every day. As Anthony Slater of The Athletic pointed out, the Dubs don’t have enough to successfully pull him away from Milwaukee.
Let’s start with money. From a strictly financial perspective, no other team can offer the amount of money that the Milwaukee Bucks will be able to give the (likely) two-time MVP. Especially considering the potential financial impact of the NBA’s recent hiatus, the value of securing a supermax contract over a regular deal will only increase for Giannis.
Not to mention, the Warriors will have to scrap a large chunk of their roster just to offer Antetokounnmpo a reasonable deal, to begin with. Klay Thompson or Draymond Green (or both?) would have to be shipped out of the Bay Area in order to make way for Giannis. This would leave only a 32-year-old Stephen Curry to pair with the Greek Freak.
Two factors usually stand out for any star player considering a change of scenery. First, they want to secure a hefty paycheck. Secondly, they need to feel confident the franchise is poised for years of success.
The Warriors might not be able to guarantee either of these things. The dynasty already nearly toppled over this season as injuries and free agency losses derailed the Dubs chances at a sixth trip to the NBA Finals.
Golden State’s front office has proven to be one of the best in the league but are they good enough to persuade Giannis out of the city that helped turn him into a superstar? Unlikely.