The Golden State Warriors could be a matter of days away from knowing whether they can truly complete a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Sunday’s NBA draft lottery set to play a pivotal role in the future of the franchise.
The Bucks announced on Wednesday that they’ll look to resolve Antetokounmpo’s future prior to next month’s draft, providing a clear timeline that suggests a trade involving the 2x MVP could be imminent.
Draft lottery will give indication of Warriors’ Giannis hopes
Given the Miami Heat were reportedly closer to a deal for Antetokounmpo before the mid-season deadline, and with others set to be armed with more picks next month, it’s difficult to see the Warriors having enough to make a trade happen.
That could change dramatically though if Golden State jump into the top four at Sunday’s lottery, something that stands as a 9.4% chance as they enter with the 11th-best odds for the first overall pick.
Who knows, perhaps Joe Lacob and the Warriors would prefer to keep a top four pick over trading it as part of a massive package for a 31-year-old Antetokounmpo who appeared in just 35 games this season. Yet either way, the potential package they could offer the Bucks would be far more appetizing than it is now, as Milwaukee expert Dalton Sell outlined last month.
However, Golden State's offer would likely look different now than what it did before the mid-season deadline when they were looking to move Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga. With Kuminga now at the Atlanta Hawks, Jimmy Butler's salary would likely need to be involved along with a major combination of draft capital and potentially Wisconsin native Brandin Podziemski.
Giannis trade rumors heat up further after latest comments
An Antetokounmpo trade now feels inevitable after recent comments from both the superstar forward and the Bucks only served to further rumors of a move following his 13th season at the franchise.
When asked about the hiring of former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins to lead Milwaukee forward, Antetokounmpo curiously distanced himself in his wording, stating, "I don’t think Milwaukee is just getting a good coach, I think they’re getting a good person."
Why use 'Milwaukee' and 'they're' rather than 'we' unless you know a trade is going to take place? Milwaukee co-owner Jimmy Haslam also didn't do anything to quieten the speculation, acknowledging that they've told Jenkins that "Giannis may or may not be with us."
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