As expected, the Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors fell to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night to drop to 11-12 on the year.
The Dubs are in a rough spot with or without Curry on the hardwood, as the franchise has enough talent to avoid beating bottom feeders but not enough talent to legitimately compete for a championship.
Fortunately, the Warriors, who desperately need to trade for another superstar before the Feb. 5 deadline, received bombshell news that could open the door for a blockbuster deal.
“Sources say Golden State has never been close to putting both Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in the same trade conversation — refusing to do so in their 2024 talks with Utah (Jazz) — just in case the chance emerged to package them both for Antetokounmpo or some other major, major fish,” the Stein Line’s Jake Fischer wrote Friday.
“The Warriors have likewise been reluctant to consider win-now, all-in moves that would require them to trade away Draymond Green, but Antetokounmpo in all likelihood would change that equation for Golden State’s brass.”
Essentially, the Warriors have been waiting for a golden opportunity to use Kuminga and Podziemski in a trade for a highly sought-after contributor like Antetokounmpo.
Before ESPN’s Shams Charania’s mid-week report about Antetokounmpo contemplating his future with the Bucks, there didn’t appear to be much optimism that the Warriors could pull off a midseason deal for the 30-year-old NBA champion.
However, now that Antetokounmpo isn’t 100% sold on the idea of spending the rest of his career with the Bucks, the Warriors should feel confident about their chances of acquiring the former lottery pick on the trade market.
Kuminga and Podziemski are two young assets who would help Milwaukee start its rebuild on a positive note, making a potential trade a win for the Bucks and Warriors.
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