Warriors' stance on trading Jimmy Butler for Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed by NBA insider originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to move on from the Milwaukee Bucks -- and contenders around the NBA reportedly are making "aggressive" pitches to land the two-time MVP ahead of next Thursday's trade deadline.
One team almost guaranteed to kick the tires on Antetokounmpo is the Golden State Warriors. Though the hard-capped Warriors hardly have an asset warchest to offer the Bucks, Golden State can dangle a contract to match salaries that another team might not dangle -- or cannot dangle.
MORE: Warriors make Giannis Antetokounmpo trade decision as Bucks star prepares to move on
The Warriors' trade deadline outlook -- and their season at large -- changed irrevocably when Jimmy Butler went down with a season-ending knee injury last Monday. Butler is signed through next season at a $56.8 million salary, and Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reports that the Warriors would offer Butler's contract -- plus Jonathan Kuminga -- in a deal to land Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors are willing to offer a Jonathan Kuminga/Jimmy Butler–headlined package with draft picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @SIChrisMannix
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 28, 2026
(Via @SInow ) pic.twitter.com/NUisKudSll
Kuminga has been linked with the Miami Heat, the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers. His two-year, $48.5 million contract has a team option for next season, which could make him an attractive option for a team like the Bucks -- who are poised to retool once a Giannis trade is completed.
Even with the Bucks reject this offer, the Warriors seem intent on getting another star before the deadline -- and if they don't, they may try again on Antetokounmpo in the summer.
