Warriors Linked to Two-Time MVP as Stephen Curry Turns 37

Golden State Warriors are staring at a difficult finish to the season, but speculation is already building about how the franchise might attempt to retool around Stephen Curry — and one NBA analyst believes the boldest option remains on the table.

In a recent offseason preview for Bleacher Report, NBA analyst Dan Favale identified Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Warriors’ most intriguing potential trade target if the team chooses to make another all-in push while Curry remains in his championship window.

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Warriors Sliding Amid Injuries to Curry, Butler

Golden State’s current season has unraveled in recent weeks. A 130–124 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls dropped the Warriors to 32–33, leaving them below .500 and only 1.5 games ahead of the 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference standings.

The slide has coincided with major injuries. Curry remains sidelined with a knee injury, while last season’s prized acquisition, Jimmy Butler, suffered a season-ending ACL tear.

With Curry set to turn 37 on Saturday, the Warriors face increasing urgency to maximize the remaining years of their franchise cornerstone’s career.

That urgency is precisely why Favale believes Golden State cannot rule out a blockbuster pursuit of Antetokounmpo.

“Stephen Curry is almost 40, has missed games, blah, blah, blahty blah,” Favale wrote. “So long as he’s on this roster and operating, when healthy, at an All-NBA level, the Golden State Warriors are obligated to pursue all-in moves until the wheels fall off.”

Favale added that Antetokounmpo represents the most obvious superstar target if the Warriors decide to swing big.

“Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ‘Doy!’ inclusion,” Favale wrote. “Golden State just needs to hope he isn’t that married to living on the East Coast.”

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East Coast Preference Could Complicate Warriors’ Pursuit

Favale’s comment referenced earlier reporting from fellow Bleacher Report salary cap analyst Eric Pincus, who noted that league speculation about Antetokounmpo’s preferences could complicate potential trade scenarios.

According to Pincus, some league observers believe Antetokounmpo may prefer playing on the East Coast due to its relative proximity to his native Greece.

“There’s some buzz in the NBA that Antetokounmpo prefers the East Coast, which is closer to Greece,” Pincus wrote. “Both by flight and, perhaps more importantly, time zone.”

Pincus also noted another rumor circulating league circles — that Antetokounmpo may favor roster constructions that allow him to serve as the primary offensive engine rather than sharing ball-dominant responsibilities.

During the 2021 NBA Finals championship run with the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo thrived alongside players such as Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, both of whom were comfortable operating off the ball.

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Questions About Giannis Fit in Golden State

Potential chemistry questions have surfaced before.

NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported that some league executives wondered whether Antetokounmpo would hesitate to join an aging Warriors core — or deal with comparisons to Kevin Durant, whose decision to join Curry in Golden State still sparks debate among fans.

“There is suspicion that Antetokounmpo could be turned off by the idea of joining an older team and/or facing the sort of criticism that Kevin Durant continues to absorb to this day about teaming up with Curry,” Fischer wrote in The Stein Line.

Still, Golden State’s front office has shown little reluctance about pursuing bold moves.

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Warriors Remain Aggressive in ‘Win-Now’ Window

The Warriors pivoted away from Antetokounmpo once they realized Milwaukee isn’t trading him by dealing Jonathan Kuminga in a package that brought in Kristaps Porziņģis.

But general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. emphasized that the organization remains committed to aggressive roster building as long as Curry continues to perform at an elite level.

“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to improve this team, whether it’s young players, first-round picks,” Dunleavy said after the deadline. “We always have been, we always will be, as long as we’re in this win-now window.”

Whether Antetokounmpo ever becomes realistically available remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in the NBA.

But as Golden State searches for a path back into championship contention, the possibility of pairing Curry with another generational superstar will likely remain at the center of offseason speculation.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo