While Giannis Antetokounmpo has yet to be traded by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Golden State Warriors' pursuit of the 2x MVP has unofficially come to an end in a rather meek manner.
The Warriors are, however, ramping up interest in signing another superstar forward this offseason, with the franchise's inability to attract Antetokounmpo, along with a host of other big names in recent years, giving them another reason to pursue LeBron James in free agency.
Giannis dream ending gives Warriors another reason to pursue LeBron
Antetokounmpo had been on Golden State's radar for over half a decade as their absolute dream addition, but things have gone quiet in recent weeks despite the increasing expectation that Milwaukee will finally trade their franchise superstar.
The end of the Warriors' Antetokounmpo hope was signalled on Thursday, with NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reporting that they and the Minnesota Timberwolves are out of the race for the 31-year-old.
"Minnesota and Golden State were both prominent Antetokounmpo suitors in February when the Bucks briefly invited trade interest in their Face of the Franchise, but sources say neither team has factored into the Bucks' recent trade talks," Fischer wrote.
This is far less about Golden State being out on Antetokounmpo, and more so about him never really truly being interested in them. It points to a far bigger issue for the Warriors in recent years -- they've lost their pull and lure to star players who so often dictate where they end up.
Gone are the days of Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins. Antetokounmpo is just the latest who wasn't interested in a Golden State move, following the likes of former Toronto Raptors pair Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, as well as Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen. Even the last big name player the Warriors acquired, Jimmy Butler, was hesistant before being convinced by the aid of a big new contract extension.
Warriors' LeBron James pursuit is more than the on-court impact
James himself has rejected advancements from Golden State in the past, but that won't stop them from trying again this time around, particularly when the path is a little clearer (and therefore more likely) given the 41-year-old is a free agent.
Make no mistake, the Warriors need James from an on-court standpoint to help Stephen Curry and boost a 19th-ranked offense from this past season. Yet they also need him from an image perspective, to help show everyone that this is still an elite organization capable of attracting one of the biggest name's in the history of the game.
Signing James may instantly make Golden State more enticing to other prospective free agents on smaller deals, but it might also have longer lasting effects that can help influence other stars the franchise pursues in the future.
Perhaps most importantly, it would send a message to Warriors fans that this isn't just a team endlessly part of trade rumors when a big name comes up, but one that can actually pull off a big move when push comes to shove.
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