‘Breaking up Curry and Green’ – Warriors will move mountains if frustrated Giannis demands Bucks trade

Stephen Curry has already lost Klay Thompson as a Splash Brother.

Could Draymond Green become the next ex-Warrior as Golden State tries to add one more ring to its dynasty case?

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Will Giannis force his way out of Milwaukee?

Trade rumors have swirled around Giannis Antetokounmpo since training camp, and the Milwaukee Bucks‘ disappointing 11-15 start has continued to keep the Greek Freak’s name in daily NBA updates.

Doc Rivers’ future becomes more uncertain with each December defeat, while all it takes is one brief message from Antetokounmpo to change the Bucks’ future for years to come — and give another team a two-time MVP who’s still in his prime.

“Teams are calling the Bucks,” NBA insider Marc Stein exclusively told talkSPORT.

“The Bucks, at this point, keep telling teams, he’s not available, we’re not trading him.

“The only way there’s really going to be a Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, Giannis himself has to go to the Bucks and say, I want out. He has to firmly say it, and that has not happened.”

But if those words were spoken by the Greek Freak?

A 13-12 team in the Western Conference would almost certainly insert itself into the biggest NBA blockbuster trade in years.

Draymond Green could be expendable

“Would that be the one scenario where Golden State was willing to trade Draymond Green?” Stein said.

“If Giannis actually does become available, obviously, 29 other teams call. He’s the kind of player that everyone checks in to see, do we have a chance — do we have any chance at trading for this guy?”

The Warriors entered Friday staring up at the almost-unbeatable Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in the West.

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San Antonio also topped Stephen Curry‘s team, and the Spurs reached the semifinals of the NBA Cup without an injured Victor Wembanyama.

The Warriors were in the middle of LeBron James trade rumors during the last NBA trade deadline and it could take a blockbuster to make Golden State a true contender again.

Steve Kerr, Curry and Green haven’t advanced past the conference semifinals since winning a fourth world championship together in 2021-22.

In NBA fantasy land, Curry running the court nightly with Antetokounmpo would create must-see TV.

Loaded West forces Golden State’s hand

It also might be the only immediate move that gives Golden State a shot of eclipsing the elite teams in the West.

“We know that the Warriors, Stephen Curry, that’s something that is always — there’s a level of interest there,” Stein said.

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“Let’s put it like this: There’s a presumed level of interest there, that Giannis, that the Warriors, would be a team that he has on his list somewhere. 

“It’s still hard for me to imagine the Warriors breaking up Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. But I’m a basketball romantic. I thought Klay Thompson would play his whole career in Golden State and, obviously, that didn’t happen. 

“If Giannis becomes available, the Warriors would have to consider anything if they’re truly in the mix to get him.”

Curry running out of time for another ring

Curry is 37-years-old and has spent his entire 17-year career with the Warriors.

The two-time MVP has earned 11 All-NBA honors and two scoring titles, was selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and won a gold medal with Team USA in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Green, 35, was drafted by Golden State with the No. 35 overall pick (second round) in 2012 out of Michigan State.

Big three

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Age: 31
Career stats: 24 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5 assists
NBA championships: 1
Career earnings: $338 million

Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Age: 37
Career stats: 24.8 points, 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds
NBA championships: 4
Career earnings: $470m

Draymond Green (Warriors)
Age: 35
Career stats: 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists
NBA championships: 4
Career earnings: $227m

One of the NBA’s most intense players has added nine All-Defensive Team selections and four All-Star honors to a career that could eventually, like Curry’s, end up in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

But Green doesn’t have the scoring ability to carry the Warriors in the postseason, while Antetokounmpo’s two-way talent could help Golden State make up for the loss of Green inside the paint.

Milwaukee moving on from Antetokounmpo will be inevitable — if he says the words.

“They’ve danced around it, they danced around it in the summertime,” Stein said. 

“The Bucks do not want to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. And until he makes it untenable for them for him to stay — and he has not done that yet — there isn’t going to be a real trade push.”

But if the Greek Freak pressures the Bucks, the Warriors trading Green could be the best way to give Curry one more shot at a world championship before the greatest shooter in NBA history fires his last attempt.

The 2025-26 NBA trade deadline is February 5.

Veteran point guard Chris Paul could be on the move as soon as Monday after falling out with the Los Angeles Clippers.

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