Brian Windhorst claims the Warriors have the best Giannis Antetokounmpo trade package

With the NBA trade deadline a week from the Feb. 5 cutoff, speculation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to intensify. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst believes he is among the teams monitoring the situation Golden State Warriors are positioned to represent the strongest trade package if Milwaukee Bucks decide to move the cornerstone of their franchise.

Windhorst addressed the situation Wednesday on NBA Today, pointing to Golden State’s unique flexibility and control of future assets.

“The Golden State Warriors are a team that immediately rises to the top of the list,” Windhorst said. “As far as teams that can make a straight trade with the Bucks … the Warriors hold all of their future draft assets, they can trade everything.”

Golden State currently sits in eighth place in the Western Conference at 27-22 after a A 140-124 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday evening. The Warriors are going through uncertainty Jimmy Butler III suffered an ACL tear last weeka development that has heightened the team’s urgency as the deadline approaches.

“They have an immediate need for a star player,” Windhorst said. “This is where the discussion starts, with Golden State. Everyone else will have to try to beat Golden State’s strong bid.”

ESPN’s Anthony Slater expanded on Windhorst’s comments in a recent report, noting that Milwaukee controls tempo and timing any potential business.

“But the Bucks are in the driver’s seat of a car full of loaded motives, able to trade Antetokounmpo next week or wait for a fuller market to develop in the summer,” Slater wrote. “If they decide to pounce now, the Warriors — among the expected aggressive suitors — have arguably the most attractive package of picks.”

The Warriors’ draft capital solidifies a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo deal

According to Slater, Golden State can offer up to four first-round picks: unprotected selections in 2026, 2028 and 2032, along with a 2030 pick to indicate whether it falls in the top 20. Because of Milwaukee’s outgoing commitments, the Bucks could also get just one more trade-up value in the draft.

Historically, the Warriors have kept picks since the Stephen Curry era in smaller trades. Slater noted that Antetokounmpo’s availability changes the calculus.

“This is not a low-level conversation,” Slater wrote. “The post-Curry era guys would be available to Milwaukee and valuable, but less so because the post-Curry era would suddenly include Antetokounmpo in his mid-30s.”

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. addressed the team’s willingness to engage in major discussions earlier this season.

“It would take quite a bit (to move a post-Curry pick),” Dunleavy said. “But if there is a big player, we have everything in the war chest that we would be willing to use.”

Jimmy Butler status, rival packages shape Giannis sweepstakes

Golden State told Butler they plan to keep him despite the ACL injury, believing he can return next season and contribute. Dunleavy said he didn’t “imagine” trading Butler, though Slater reported that all would be discussed in the Antetokounmpo scenario. Butler’s contract represents the clearest salary match, but frameworks that include Draymond Green and multiple rotation players also remain plausible.

Slater also outlined how the other candidates compare. Rival teams like the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat can offer established middle infielders, but league sources say Milwaukee has shown interest in Jonathan Cumminga since the summer. Third-year guard Brandin Podziemski could also be involved in the negotiations, while Golden State could take on long-term contracts belonging to veterans such as Bobby Portis or Kyle Kuzma to facilitate salary adjustments.

For now, Golden State will look to build on the momentum as it returns to the Chase Center to host the Detroit Pistons (34-11) on Friday night at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, remains in a holding pattern. The Milwaukee Bucks are 18-27, 12th in the Eastern Conference standings and will look to snap a three-game losing streak Thursday night against the Washington Wizards (11-34) at 7:00 PM ET on Prime Video.

As the deadline nears, league executives continue to monitor whether Milwaukee will act now or wait. If the Bucks decide to move Antetokounmpo in the coming days, Windhorst believes Golden State’s combination of urgency and assets puts him firmly at the top of the conversation.