Warriors still haven't given up on pursuing Giannis! Hoping to restart negotiations this summer, confident Curry remains highly attractive

On February 5th Beijing time, according to Warriors reporter Nick Friedell, late Wednesday night local time, with the news of Kuminga being traded to the Hawks in exchange for Porzingis, a sense of relief swept through the Warriors organization. The 7th pick from the 2021 draft still had many supporters within the team, but for weeks many anticipated the trade's completion — and none more so than Kuminga himself.

This season, the tense relationship between Kuminga, head coach Steve Kerr, and the team management has been no secret, culminating in a full-blown conflict earlier last month. During a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors rested Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, yet Kuminga chose not to play. He was suddenly listed as out due to lower back soreness. Prior signs of a trade had been circulating for weeks, and this incident made the separation inevitable — the only question remaining was when it would happen.

That moment finally arrived late Wednesday night. The 23-year-old Kuminga will get a fresh opportunity with his new team to showcase his talents; meanwhile, the Warriors have finally rid themselves of the turmoil caused by Kuminga's presence. However, in the short term, the Warriors' outlook for this season remains bleak. Initially aiming for a championship, the season trajectory changed drastically after Butler tore his right ACL on January 19. Now, the Warriors can at best fight for a play-in spot; only if Curry heats up and leads the team to consecutive wins against strong opponents can they hope to advance further in the playoffs.

Yet this Kuminga trade has quietly sparked a new feeling within the team — hope.Many analysts outside believe that with the trade involving Kuminga and Buddy Hield’s salaries finalized, the Warriors’ chances of pursuing Giannis are effectively over. However, insiders quickly clarified that the door to pursuing Giannis is not completely closed. They still hope to find an opportunity to make a Giannis trade happen in the future.

According to reporter Sam Amick, “The Bucks have remained silent recently, causing the Warriors and other interested teams to doubt whether Giannis will truly be put on the trading block.” This uncertainty persisted late Wednesday night, with Warriors management widely believing the Bucks are not yet ready to part with their franchise cornerstone.

Even so,the Warriors remain somewhat optimistic: if the Bucks do not trade Giannis before the deadline, there is still a chance to restart talks this summer.Earlier this week, reports indicated the Warriors promised Butler they would stand by him throughout his year-long knee recovery.

Additionally, if Draymond Green ultimately opts into his $28 million player option for next season, he is likely to become a key trade asset again this summer. It’s important to note that if the Warriors do not include Butler in any trade this summer, whether Green exercises his option or leaves via sign-and-trade, he will remain a crucial piece. Porzingis could also be involved in a sign-and-trade, but to acquire Giannis, the team must offer a high-salary contract as part of the deal (if Butler is not involved, it will most likely be Green or Porzingis), since the combined salaries of young players like Moody and Poole are far from sufficient to match the trade value.

For Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., the good news is that salary cap restrictions will loosen significantly during the offseason. This will allow him to absorb higher salary contracts in the short term to facilitate trades. Furthermore,waiting until after the June draft to act means the Warriors can include first-round picks from 2026 and 2027 in trades, providing the Bucks with more short-term assets.

Between now and the offseason, Giannis will have more time to contemplate his future — considering whether the Warriors are the best destination for his career. He will have the chance to play alongside Curry (who turns 38 on March 14) and the returning Butler (who will be 37 this September).

The Warriors also hope Giannis realizes that the combination of Curry and Butler, plus owner Joe Lacob’s willingness to spend to strengthen the roster, is the best path for him to chase a championship. The Warriors firmly believe that the allure of playing alongside a still-elite Curry in his late prime is enough to attract any star player.

Currently, the Warriors’ future remains uncertain. Curry is dealing with a knee injury, Butler is sidelined long-term, and Green knows his name is deeply involved in trade rumors. But late Wednesday night, Warriors management could finally rest easy — the Kuminga saga that troubled the team for so long has ended, and their hope of acquiring Giannis still burns bright.

Though that hope may be slim, for the Warriors it has always been that way. Until Giannis officially chooses his next team, this hope is worth holding onto.