The Golden State Warriors are nearing the end of their championship core cycle, with Klay Thompson potentially leaving the team at the end of the season, along with other players whose futures are uncertain on the roster, and coach Steve Kerr entering the final year of his contract.
The truth is that, despite everything, the Warriors appear to want to remain competitive and capitalise on Steph Curry’s last few years at a top level, with rumours circulating that they may seek the Milwaukee Bucks’ ‘Greek Freak’ Giannis Antetokounmpo sooner rather than later.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the latest sources indicate that Giannis’ arrival with the Golden State Warriors in the summer would be their ‘dream scenario’.
However, the Warriors would have a challenge because the Greek player merely signed a three-year, $186 million contract deal with the Bucks in October 2023, with an opt-out clause until the 2025-26 season.
This would imply that the Warriors must make a deal with Milwaukee to get Antetokounmpo’s services.
In the first year of Antetokounmpo’s three-year, $186 million contract agreement, the Bucks fell from fourth to 21st in defensive efficiency. Giannis and his teammates have suffered multiple blowout losses this season as Milwaukee’s once-feared defence has crumbled, including a 135-95 defeat in Cleveland against the Cavaliers last Tuesday.
That defeat may have been the figurative final nail in Griffin’s coffin, as one report said Tuesday that Giannis — the franchise’s undisputed face as a two-time league MVP — had “lost faith” in Griffin’s ability to plot or motivate the players effectively.