The Golden State Warriors face a battle to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo via trade, as the New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves are all reported to have significant interest in the two-time MVP. However, the Warriors arguably have the best path to a sizeable trade offer, with a mix of future draft picks, salary matching and high-upside young talent.
In a Jan. 30 episode of ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” the hosts urged the Warriors to become aggressive in their pursuit of Giannis. They noted how well the veteran forward would fit next to Stephen Curry and the competition that Golden State will face from other teams around the NBA.
“I think they have to be very aggressive,” Brian Windhorst said. “They understand that they are in the eye of this storm because if they’re going to make this move, they’re going to have to close, I really believe, by next Thursday. Their offer could not really improve by the summer..The advantage that they have over the other suitors is that they control all of their picks. They can offer four unprotected first-round picks, plus swaps, plus players on their roster. If we get to the summer, teams like Miami, Minnesota, New York, they can actually improve their offer. So they have got to be very aggressive and close.”
Making a move for Giannis now would be ideal for Golden State. They would have the second half of the regular season to figure things out with him and Curry before making a push for a championship during the postseason. Then, the front office can retool the rotation around it’s new star players to provide even more opportunity to make it back to the NBA Finals in the coming years.
Right now, the Warriors have the best shot at landing Giannis. Waiting until the summer could prove to be a costly mistake. Fortunately, Mike Dunleavy Jr. knows what it takes to swing a big deal near the trade deadline; after all, that’s what he did last year with Jimmy Butler.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: The Warriors’ best chance of landing Giannis is right now
