The Warriors are thinking big.
With their championship battle still only in the rearview mirror, Golden State is hoping to make some blockbuster moves this summer.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported this on Thursday that the Warriors “plan to play a prominent role in the trade mix” for Giannis Antetokounmpo “if he actually becomes available via trade this offseason.”
And that’s not all.
The Warriors are also “exploring the prospect of a team [LeBron] James finally meets Stephen Curry [he] will become an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
Golden State has long been linked to Antetokounmpo and James, and rumors of a potential move to the Bay Area for both players have swirled for well over half a decade.
Antetokounmpo and James both appear to be at odds with their current teams.
On Wednesday night, Antetokounmpo, whose days in Milwaukee seemed long numbered, called his teammates “selfish.”
James has been clashing with Lakers brass for months, and it was recently revealed that his relationship with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss had soured.
The wild rumor comes after the Warriors lost Jimmy Butler to a season-ending ACL tear, dealing a major blow to any title hopes the franchise had going into this season.
At the last trade deadline, the Warriors acquired Butler in a trade with the Heat in an effort to add some star power to their roster alongside Curry and Draymond Green.
Golden State won a playoff series before being eliminated in five games by the Timberwolves in the semifinals.
The Warriors are 25-20 and the eighth seed in the Western Conference heading into Thursday’s game against the Mavericks.
After a slow start, Golden State seemed to have it figured out, winning 12 of 16 before Butler went down for the year.
Before the Feb. 5 deadline, the Warriors also must decide on Jonathan Kuminga, who demanded a trade last week out of frustration with his role on the team amid seemingly endless trade rumors.
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