The seismic shifts in the NBA’s offseason continue to reverberate, with an earth-shattering development confirming the Golden State Warriors’ audacious pursuit of another championship: multiple sources have confirmed that the Warriors are on the verge of acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade. The proposed deal, which is set to fundamentally reshape the league, involves the Warriors sending Quintin Post, Moses Moody, and unprotected first-round picks in 2028 and 2030 to Milwaukee. Upon completion of the trade, Giannis is reportedly prepared to sign a two-year contract extension with the Warriors worth $150 million, a staggering sum that reflects his unparalleled talent and the Warriors’ no-holds-barred approach to re-establishing their dominance.
This reported transaction, if finalized, represents one of the most significant trades in recent NBA history, potentially creating an unprecedented superteam in Golden State. The Warriors, who have aggressively reloaded their roster with the reported acquisition of Jimmy Butler prior to free agency, and the recent signing of veteran center Al Horford, are now adding arguably the most dominant two-way player in the modern game.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Incoming to Warriors): The centerpiece of the deal, Giannis brings unparalleled athleticism, scoring, rebounding, and defensive versatility. A two-time MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year, he has consistently been one of the league’s top performers. His reported two-year, $150 million extension with the Warriors (averaging $75 million per year) would be a new contract, likely coming after he declines a player option with the Bucks. Giannis’s current contract structure with the Bucks shows him having a player option for the 2027-28 season, meaning the Bucks would need to trade him before he could exercise that. A new deal with Golden State suggests a commitment to their long-term vision, even if only for two years initially. His current deal had him set to earn $51.9 million in 2025-26, so a $75 million AAV would represent a significant pay raise, cementing him as one of the highest-paid players in the league.
- Quintin Post (Outgoing from Warriors): Post, a 25-year-old center, was drafted 52nd overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder before having his rights acquired by the Warriors. He signed a two-year, $2.39 million contract with the Warriors in February 2025, with his 2025-26 salary set at $1.955 million. As a promising big man with floor-spacing potential, he represents a young asset for the Bucks to integrate into a potential rebuild.
- Moses Moody (Outgoing from Warriors): Moody, 23, is a young wing who has shown flashes of potential as a reliable two-way player. He signed a 3-year, $37.5 million extension with the Warriors in October 2024, with his 2025-26 salary set at $11.57 million. Moody offers the Bucks a more established, albeit still developing, player to add to their core.
- First-Round Picks in 2028 and 2030 (Outgoing from Warriors): These unprotected first-round picks represent significant future draft capital for the Milwaukee Bucks. In the current NBA climate, where future flexibility and young talent are highly valued, these picks are essential for a team like the Bucks facing a potential rebuild if they lose their franchise cornerstone. Given that the Bucks’ first-round picks are currently tied up until 2031 due to previous “win-now” moves (including having to part with Damian Lillard recently), acquiring these picks from the Warriors is crucial for their long-term health.
While trading Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a devastating blow to the Milwaukee Bucks fanbase, the reality is that the team’s championship window has seemingly closed. With Damian Lillard sidelined with a torn Achilles (reportedly out until 2027), and a significant lack of draft capital, the Bucks are in a precarious position. Giannis expressed a desire to “win and stay competitive,” and if Milwaukee can no longer provide that, a trade becomes a painful but necessary option.
- Future Flexibility: The unprotected first-round picks are paramount. They allow the Bucks to re-stock their draft cupboard, which has been depleted by past “all-in” moves.
- Young Talent: Moses Moody and Quintin Post offer young, NBA-ready talent that can contribute immediately and potentially grow into larger roles.
- Avoiding a Rental Situation: Giannis’s contract status (with a player option in 2027) meant the Bucks faced the possibility of him leaving as a free agent if they couldn’t contend. Trading him now ensures they receive assets rather than losing him for nothing.
- Salary Relief (Long-Term): While Antetokounmpo’s salary is substantial, moving him allows the Bucks to reset their cap sheet and avoid long-term financial commitments to a team that might not be contending.
This trade epitomizes the Golden State Warriors’ “win-now at all costs” mentality. They are combining their aging, albeit still elite, core with another superstar in his prime. The projected starting five would be:
- Stephen Curry (PG, 37)
- Klay Thompson/Other Guard (SG) (Assuming Klay either re-signed on a smaller deal, or the Warriors brought in another starting-caliber shooting guard.)
- Jimmy Butler (SF, 36) (Acquired prior to free agency)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF, 30)
- Draymond Green (C, 35) / Al Horford (C, 39) (Horford recently signed with the Warriors)
This lineup would possess an unparalleled blend of offensive firepower, defensive versatility, and championship experience. The “Big Four” of Curry, Butler, Green, and Antetokounmpo would immediately become the most formidable quartet in the NBA.
- Offensive Dominance: The combination of Curry’s shooting, Butler’s isolation scoring and playmaking, Giannis’s relentless attacks to the rim, and Green’s elite passing would be nearly impossible to guard.
- Defensive Prowess: A frontline of Giannis and Green, supported by Butler’s perimeter defense and Horford’s defensive IQ, would be suffocating. They would be an elite shot-blocking, rebounding, and disruptive defensive unit.
- Championship Window Extended (or Maximized): This trade pushes all the chips to the center of the table. The Warriors are betting that adding a transcendent talent like Giannis will be enough to overcome the advanced ages of Curry, Butler, and Green, allowing them to compete for multiple championships in the next two to three seasons.
- Luxury Tax Implications: This trade will solidify the Warriors as the NBA’s highest-spending team by a significant margin. Between Curry’s massive contract, Butler’s deal, Green’s salary, Horford’s recent signing, and now Giannis’s $75 million AAV, their payroll will be astronomical, incurring unprecedented luxury tax penalties. This reiterates the ownership’s unwavering commitment to winning, regardless of cost.
Despite the tantalizing potential, this blockbuster trade is not without its risks and questions for the Warriors:
- Giannis’s Shooting: While Giannis has improved his shooting, he is still not a consistent three-point threat. His fit alongside non-shooters like Draymond Green (and potentially Jimmy Butler, who is not a volume three-point shooter) could present spacing challenges for Steve Kerr’s offense, though his rim pressure often creates enough gravity to mitigate this.
- Age and Durability: The core of Curry, Butler, and Green are all in their mid-to-late 30s. Adding Giannis, while still in his prime, increases the overall age profile of the team. Managing minutes and preventing injuries will be paramount for a deep playoff run.
- Locker Room Dynamics: While Giannis is known for his humble and professional demeanor, integrating another superstar into an already strong locker room dynamic (which recently saw a reported physical altercation between Green and Kuminga) will require careful management by Steve Kerr. The “too many cooks in the kitchen” scenario is always a possibility with multiple alpha personalities.
- Depth: Trading away Moody and Post, combined with the earlier move that sent Jonathan Kuminga elsewhere (likely in the Kuminga/$73.7M deal scenario), will deplete the Warriors’ bench and young talent. They will need to rely heavily on veteran minimums and shrewd G-League call-ups to fill out the roster.
- Future Draft Capital: The 2028 and 2030 unprotected first-round picks are a hefty price to pay. If this iteration of the Warriors fails to win a championship in the next few years, the long-term future of the franchise could be severely impacted by these outgoing picks.
This trade, if indeed official, represents the Golden State Warriors pushing all their chips into the center of the table. They are betting on the sheer, overwhelming talent of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Giannis Antetokounmpo to deliver multiple championships before their historic run concludes. The NBA landscape has irrevocably changed.
