The Golden State Warriors’ superstar chase will be the top storyline of the franchise’s offseason.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is a franchise-bolstering asset that’s been linked to the seven-time NBA champions, as he wows on both ends and would align well with the organization’s championship timeline.
In ESPN’s Tim Legler’s opinion, though, the Warriors should be more interested in stealing the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics’ two-time MVP trade target before the upcoming NBA Draft.
“(The Warriors) have always come up for Giannis (Antetokounmpo) over the last 2 years, and it was like you’d love to see (Stephen) Curry get something of that level here at the end of his career,” Legler stated Friday. “That’s why I said that.”
“That’s more like from just my heart standpoint because I love watching Steph Curry so much, and I want a potential for deeper playoff runs for him, not Play In stuff, where he’s gone in a game or two, or even if they make it out of that, what are they facing? A buzzsaw. So more help for him, to give Steph Curry a greater chance to have meaningful series and playoff moments at the end of his career.”
Legler has the right idea. Antetokounmpo has never been an elite floor spacer like Leonard. Still, he possesses the bulldoze-like downhill playmaking chops, late-game brilliance, championship pedigree, and star power necessary to be viewed as a primary trade target for the Warriors (especially if they miss out on LeBron James in free agency).
The only problem is that on Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are finalists for the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. If true, the Warriors would no longer have an opportunity to lure the 10-time All-Star from Milwaukee and start their offseason on a positive note.
Golden State should hope that things change drastically in the next few hours and it re-enters the conversation for a potential blockbuster trade.
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