Warriors Gain Flexibility for Potential Giannis Trade

New contract structures could allow Golden State to acquire the Bucks superstar this offseason.

Feb. 17, 2026 at 7:55pm

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The Golden State Warriors have received encouraging news regarding their ability to potentially trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. According to reports, the Warriors could structure new contracts for Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis in a way that would allow their salaries to be aggregated to match Antetokounmpo's max contract, should the Bucks superstar become available.

Why it matters

Landing Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a franchise-altering move for the Warriors, pairing him with Stephen Curry and solidifying Golden State as a title contender for years to come. While Antetokounmpo has expressed a desire to remain in Milwaukee, the Warriors are positioning themselves to be able to make a competitive offer if the situation changes.

The details

The Warriors no longer have the ability to include Buddy Hield and Jonatan Kuminga in a potential trade package for Antetokounmpo. However, by structuring new contracts for Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis, the Warriors could create the necessary salary cap space to acquire the Bucks star. This would likely require the Warriors to part ways with two of their key players, but the potential addition of Antetokounmpo would make it a worthwhile sacrifice.

  • On February 14, 2026, Giannis Antetokounmpo stated he is committed to the Milwaukee Bucks.
  • On February 16, 2026, the Warriors received the trade flexibility news from NBA analyst Yossi Gozlan.

The players

Giannis Antetokounmpo

A 31-year-old superstar forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, who has won multiple MVP awards and led the team to the 2021 NBA championship.

Draymond Green

A veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors, known for his versatility and defensive prowess.

Kristaps Porzingis

A skilled big man for the Golden State Warriors, who was acquired in a trade to bolster the team's frontcourt.

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What they’re saying

“It'll be interesting to see how they handle Porzingis and Green's contract negotiations. Both can be extended to new deals now that could keep them trade-eligible for the offseason. For example, they could structure their first-year salaries so both can be aggregated for a max player like Antetokounmpo ($58.5 million).”

— Yossi Gozlan, NBA Analyst

“I'm committed to Milwaukee and I want to make it work here in Milwaukee.”

— Giannis Antetokounmpo

What’s next

The Warriors will need to carefully navigate contract negotiations with Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis in order to maintain the necessary salary cap flexibility to potentially acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason, should the Bucks superstar become available.

The takeaway

The Warriors have positioned themselves to be able to make a serious run at Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, should the Bucks star become disgruntled in Milwaukee. While Antetokounmpo has expressed a desire to remain with the Bucks, the Warriors' ability to create the necessary salary cap space could give them a path to land the transformative superstar and solidify their status as title contenders for years to come.