Warriors emerge as frontrunners in the Giannis battle! An 8-for-2 trade framework revealed, with Heat and Timberwolves also in the mix

On January 30th Beijing time, NBC Sports revealed that the Golden State Warriors currently lead the competition for Giannis, being able to provide as many as four first-round picks (taking into account Curry’s retirement and Giannis’s dip in form, these picks could be very valuable down the line). Warriors insider Slater also reported this. An NBA executive stated: “The sooner the Bucks trade Giannis, the better the Warriors’ chances of winning the bidding war.”

The Warriors have reached out to the Bucks, offering all assets except Curry. Regardless of Giannis’s injury status or return timeline, their intention remains firm. Bucks reporter Nehm outlined a potential 8-for-2 trade structure: Warriors would send Butler, Kuminga, Moody, Pojemski, first-round picks in 2028, 2030 (if within picks 1-20), 2032, and the 2031 pick swap rights to the Bucks in exchange for Giannis and Kuzma.

However, reporter Stein also highlighted two teams that cannot be overlooked: the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. He mentioned that the Heat have been preparing for this moment for quite some time.

“You’ve probably noticed that the Heat never put forth their most valuable trade assets when pursuing Lillard, Durant, or recently Morant. They have been holding onto their most prized draft picks, waiting for a true All-Star who fits their team. Now, it seems the player they’ve been waiting for has finally appeared. Speculation suggests the Heat’s best offer will revolve around Wisconsin native Herro, promising young center Veal, and two tradable first-round picks in 2030 and 2032.”

The Timberwolves made the candidate list because reports suggest Giannis is willing to team up with Edwards, whom he has mentioned frequently over the past 18 months. The problem is the Bucks want to receive many draft picks in return, while the Timberwolves can only offer one or two pick swap rights at most, and nothing more.

Additionally, Stein noted that the Hawks could tailor the most sincere trade offer for the Bucks, including this season’s likely All-Star Jalen Johnson and control over several future Bucks draft picks. However, the Hawks have explicitly refused to include Johnson in any deal and have no intention of entering this bidding war. This is a wise move for the Hawks—their goal is to pair Johnson with Giannis, not trade the young All-Star for an older star.

ESPN reporter McMahon revealed on a podcast that the Houston Rockets will not participate in the Giannis chase. “My sources say the Rockets won’t join the bidding. Of course, this information isn’t sworn under oath, but I have confirmed this multiple times. The sources providing me with this info have always been highly reliable.”

The Rockets aggressively pursued Durant last summer, and if they now target Giannis, it would mean parting with key young core players like Amen Thompson. For a team already competitive in the Western Conference, such a cost is clearly too steep.

McMahon added that the San Antonio Spurs were also linked to Giannis this summer but have no current interest in joining the race. “I heard from Spurs insiders: ‘We’re not the ideal landing spot for Giannis.’ There were many rumors this summer, but the Spurs’ rebuilding focus remains on Vinícius’ development cycle. Given Giannis’s age, even if he joined, it would not fit the Spurs’ ten-year plan at all.”

According to Fischer, the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to enter the Giannis bidding war, but since Giannis and Tyrese Maxey share the same trainer (Drew Hanlen), this connection has placed the 76ers into Giannis’s list of potential destinations.