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Grade the Trade: Golden State Warriors land Giannis Antetokounmpo in monster pitch

By Josh Cornelissen

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives around Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors during a game at Fiserv Forum on December 13, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks defeated the Warriors 128-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives around Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors during a game at Fiserv Forum on December 13, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks defeated the Warriors 128-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors
Moses Moody and Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors, and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images /

Laying out the Giannis deal for the Warriors

There are a few massive considerations to take into account in a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. First, the Golden State Warriors need to match the salary of Antetokounmpo. Given the Warriors’ tax situation, they can’t take back extra salary in a deal. They also can’t wait until next offseason to make such a trade, either, as they won’t be able to aggregate players at that time.

So any offer needs to at least match Antetokounmpo’s salary; secondly, the value in a deal has to be enough for the Bucks. Klay Thompson’s expiring contract and a couple of firsts aren’t going to get it done. Even with their backs against the wall, the Bucks will have the leverage to get the best offers from around the league.

Finally, the Warriors have to be able to contend after making this deal. If they can’t, they’ll have sacrificed their future and their present, and Antetokounmpo won’t sign a new deal with the Warriors either. That makes the trade package involved quite tricky, but not impossible. Here’s how it could look:

This kind of a package for the Bucks would allow them to completely tear down, moving the rest of their veterans around the league, or they could retool to try and continue competing around Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Andrew Wiggins.

They get two young blue-chip prospects in Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, a rookie first-rounder in Podziemski, and some positively enticing first-round picks. Getting Golden State’s 2030 first-round pick if it falls from 1-20 would be one of the most valuable picks that has been traded, and it comes with two other unprotected firsts and three pick swaps.

There may be a better package out there, but it’s hard to compete with the combination of players and picks with this offer. Assuming the Bucks were on board with this deal, can the Warriors afford to say yes?

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