Paul Pierce doesn’t consider the Golden State Warriors a serious title contender anymore and thinks that can only change if they make one big move. On The Ticket and The Truth podcast, Pierce and Kevin Garnett were discussing Stephen Curry’s future when the former stated the Warriors have to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo to get back near the top.
“They don’t have a championship team,” Pierce said. “… The only way I see Golden State getting back to where they need to get back to is if they could find a way to get Giannis over there.”
(starts at 0:30 mark):
KG & Paul debate what’s next for Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
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Garnett wondered if Pierce had some sort of inside information about a move being in the works, but he made it clear he did not. Putting Antetokounmpo alongside Curry would certainly make the Warriors a serious title contender.
Giannis averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Milwaukee Bucks last season. He made the All-NBA First Team and finished fourth in voting for MVP. He and Curry, who averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game last season, would easily be the best duo in the NBA.
The problem, though, is that I don’t think the Warriors will be able to put together a good enough package to land Antetokounmpo if he ever asks for a trade. The eight-time All-Star is under contract through the 2027-28 season, for which he has a player option, so he won’t be available for pennies on the dollar.
The only valuable trade assets the Warriors have apart from Curry are Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. I don’t think any package that revolves around those two youngsters and draft picks would be enough to land Antetokounmpo or any other top star in the league.
It’s why I think the Warriors are somewhat stuck in NBA purgatory now. They are never going to be bad enough to get a top draft pick with Curry on the roster but at the same time, aren’t good enough to compete for titles.
Last season was a great example of that, as the Warriors finished with a 46-36 record and missed the playoffs after being beaten by the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament. They need to get in another star to push them back near the top but don’t have the means to get one.
The Warriors Reportedly Believe They Don’t Have A Championship-Level Roster
It would appear that those on the outside aren’t the only ones who think that Golden State doesn’t have what it takes to contend. According to NBA insider Anthony Slater, the Warriors front office is aware they don’t have a championship-level roster.
“The key Warriors’ stakeholders grasp Curry’s sustained greatness and, team sources said, there is an internal understanding that his current supporting cast can’t be considered a finished product if the 2025 NBA championship is believed to be a reachable goal.”
The Warriors have brought in the likes of Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson this offseason, and while they are good additions, none of the three really move the needle. You wonder how much longer Curry sticks around if the team is nowhere near title contention. Pierce thinks he will stay regardless, but I think there is a chance he will leave.
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