Dubs unwilling to trade Jimmy Butler for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

The Golden State Warriors they are in a great position to run Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. But every potential trade would be complicated without involving the Warriors forward Jimmy Butler.

Butler suffered a season-ending ACL earlier this month, ending his 2025-26 campaign and jeopardizing his availability for the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season. The injury also raises many question marks over the immediate future of the Warriors and 37-year-old superstar Stephen Curry.

In recent weeks, the Bucks have become increasingly open to the idea of ​​trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the message they’ve reportedly conveyed is that they’re in no rush to do so by the February trade deadline this week and could hold out until the offseason for better deals and a potential bidding war.

If the Warriors want to trade for Antetokounmpo, their best chance will be at the deadline, and they’ll have to give up everything for him.

According to Warriors beat writer Danny Emmerman of the San Francisco Standard, the Warriors reportedly don’t want to include the recently injured Jimmy Butler in any trade talks.

Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo suddenly more available than ever, the Warriors continued to signal their commitment to building around Butler and Steph Curry instead of investing Butler’s $54 million salary in a trade, the source said. With or without Antetokounmpo, the organization projects Butler to return next season after a year of ACL rehab.

Whether or not the Warriors end up trading Butler is entirely up to them, but as it stands now, their the best path to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo would be the trade of Butler and Jonathan Cumminga in a package that also includes four first-round picks and two trade picks.

In 38 appearances for the Warriors this season, Jimmy Butler averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, is looking at an extended absence after suffering a calf strain last week in the Bucks’ home loss to the Nuggets. In 30 appearances so far this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 64.5 percent from the field.