With Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving the door open for a possible departure from the Milwaukee Bucks at the end of the season, NBA analysts and talking heads have been busy making cases for “The Greek Freak” to go to particular teams.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has no problem with Giannis leaving Deer District. However, he does not want the two-time NBA MVP to join another two-time winner of the Michael Jordan trophy in The Bay.
“You want to talk about unfairness in the National Basketball Association? Don’t let Giannis get to Golden State with Steph Curry. If that happens, Oh my Lord. It wouldn’t be fair to the basketball world. For those two to be wearing the same uniform on the court, especially if they kept Draymond Green, who’s your point forward facilitator, who’s your energizer bunny, and who feeds Steph Curry better than anybody on the planet,” said Smith.
Giannis with Steph and Dray would be a problem for the rest of the league
If they do end up playing together for the Golden State Warriors, Giannis and Stephen Curry would be the ultimate inside and outside combination. Antetokounmpo is one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA, not just going downhill but playing on the inside.
Meanwhile, Steph is the greatest shooter of all time and the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader. Put them together, and you will have a pair of gems that complement each other. When playing against them, it’s like it’s pick your poison. Add Draymond Green to the mix, and Smith believes you get an unexpected trio that could be tough to stop.
“If you had those two in the same uniform as Giannis Antetokounmpo, forget the betting odds and all of that stuff in Vegas. Golden State would coast to the title,” he added.
Windy thinks the Warriors could flip Kuminga
The New York Knicks are the main team linked to Antetokounmpo because, as Shams reported, they are the only team that Giannis is willing to play for. However, Smith’s ESPN colleague, Brian Windhorst, believes that aside from the Knicks, the Warriors are going to be serious players for “The Greek Freak” because they have a valuable trade chip in Jonathan Kuminga.
“When you talk about teams that would pounce on a Giannis situation if it was available, right at the top of the list for me is the Golden State Warriors. And look, one of the reasons why they fought so hard to get that Jonathan Kuminga contract into a spot where it could be traded so they could go big-game hunting, not necessarily just for Giannis, but that’s what they want to do as an organization. So to me, if it’s not New York, Golden State is at the top of that list,”said Windy.
Considering that the Warriors are in a win-now mode with Curry, going after Giannis, if he is indeed available, could be part of their plan. However, it would come at a cost, with perhaps Buddy Hield and Moses Moody part of a Giannis package. But as Stephen A. said, the Warriors would only need Steph, Dray and Giannis to win another Larry O’Brien trophy.