Warriors' Giannis hopes died when they traded Jonathan Kuminga

The Golden State Warriors resolved their prolonged Jonathan Kuminga saga by flipping him to Atlanta at the 2026 trade deadline. That fixed one problem, but it also created another. Better said, it dashed their faint Giannis Antetokounmpo hopes altogether. 

Already without a competitive array of young prospects to offer the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State sent its best one out the door when they shipped Kuminga to the Hawks. 

Warriors can only offer Bucks a skeleton trade package

That much is embarrassingly apparent in a hypothetical Warriors offer assembled by Bleacher Report. 

Jimmy Butler will turn 37 in September. He's coming off a torn ACL that could cause him to miss time next season. More importantly, since Butler's main function is to match Antetokounmpo's salary, Podziemski is the best "prospect" in the mix. 

That's not to diminish his contributions. He's a fine player. A role player. Not the blue-chipper the Bucks will demand in any Giannis trade haul.

And if Golden State would only part with two unprotected firsts, plus two more protected picks way out in the future, why bother calling the Bucks at all? That 2026 selection is projected to be the 11th in the draft. With Giannis in Golden State, that '27 first-rounder would likely fall in the 20s after a Warriors playoff run.

Those picks are not high-value assets. No thanks. Just no. 

Kuminga was Warriors' one shot at baiting Bucks into Giannis deal

To be clear, the Warriors never had a competitive offer compared to teams like Miami or Houston. Like Podziemski, Kuminga is a rotation piece. The hope is that, still just 23 years old, he might become something more. At least at one time, the Bucks thought so. They were linked to Kuminga as earnest suitors last offseason.

So far in his NBA career, he has shown flashes at best. Despite some highs with Atlanta, his numbers ended up looking nearly identical to his Warriors stats this season. His overall playmaking continues to lag behind his impulses as a scorer. 

Kuminga did have a pair of good games in the playoffs. The rest of the series, he looked more like the player who fell out of Golden State's rotation. 

Still, hope is something. Kuminga has a $24.3 million team option for next season. In 2027, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Maybe before then, in his sixth season, he will finally prove himself to be a star in the making, worthy of the lucrative long-term contract he desires. 

Without even the fading prospect of an All-Star ceiling for Kuminga, the Warriors have nothing to offer for a player of Giannis' caliber. Moses Moody? Gui Santos? Those are fine auxiliary trade chips, but neither can be the centerpiece in a blockbuster. 

In cutting bait with Kuminga, Golden State forfeited its right to consideration, let alone serious consideration, as a contender to land the Greek Freak this summer. 

Given the Bucks' indicated requirements, the Warriors never stood much of a chance. They sure don't now. Anyway, Giannis reportedly wants to remain in the East.

Move it along. Next. 

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