{"id":3622,"date":"2024-09-24T03:40:34","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T03:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.drinkfood.info\/?p=3622"},"modified":"2024-09-24T03:40:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T03:40:49","slug":"warriors-perfect-storm-could-turn-giannis-antetokounmpo-dream-into-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.drinkfood.info\/?p=3622","title":{"rendered":"Warriors perfect storm could turn Giannis Antetokounmpo dream into reality.."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Can all the Warriors’ dreams come true?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Stephen<\/div>\n
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You can’t say the\u00a0Golden State Warriors\u00a0won’t go out swinging.<\/p>\n

The last couple years have been challenging for Golden State fans. After a stretch of unmatched dominance, the seams started to come apart on our greatest modern dynasty. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green got “old.” Injuries started to pile up. And, of course, the supporting cast slowly began to deteriorate.<\/p>\n

Last season, the Warriors lost their Play-In game as the No. 10 seed in a crowded Western Conference. Stephen Curry still has top-shelf talent, but the team around him is little more than a pale impression of those historic juggernauts of yesteryear. Klay Thompson is even on a new team now, which feels both entirely wrong and long overdue.<\/p>\n

That said, Golden State’s front office was impressively productive this summer. The Warriors added a slew of impactful role players, including De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, and Buddy Hield. We also saw the Dubs chase after star-power, mounting pursuits of both Paul George and Lauri Markkanen. Neither panned out, but the Warriors’ desire to add another All-Star is proof positive that Steph’s final years will be spent in pursuit of his fifth ring. As they should be.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Butler looms as a potential\u00a0midseason or offseason target, while Golden State is sure to monitor the trade market for other malcontent stars. That said, the “dream” for Joe Lacob is Giannis Antetokounmpo. We have heard rumblings about the Dubs’ interest in Giannis for years, and it would appear that he is still a\u00a0subject of interest\u00a0in the front office.<\/p>\n

Lacob “has had dreams of Giannis coming the Warriors’ way for a very long time,” per NBA insider Sam Amick on\u00a0The TK Show<\/em>. Those dreams have long felt out of reach, especially after Giannis inked a three-year, $175.4 million contract extension that tethers him to the\u00a0Milwaukee Bucks\u00a0through at least 2026-27. That isn’t as far off as it sounds, though, and it would appear that confidence is waning in the Bucks league-wide.<\/p>\n

Are the\u00a0tides beginning to turn\u00a0in Golden State’s favor here?<\/p>\n

Bucks demise could put Giannis Antetokounmpo in play for star-hunting Warriors<\/h2>\n

“No one’s buying [the Bucks],” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said in a\u00a0recent episode\u00a0of Bill Simmons’ podcast. “I just hear they’re old. This iteration isn’t going to work. I’m like, okay. I’m stunned at the level of pessimism about the Bucks.”<\/p>\n

The Bucks finished last season as the No. 3 seed in the East, but were eliminated by the No. 6 seed\u00a0Indiana Pacers\u00a0in the first round amid injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The “old” criticism is valid. Lillard declined noticeably in his first season with Milwaukee, while Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and the entire Bucks core aside from Giannis is well on the wrong side of 30.<\/p>\n

Injuries are going to be an ongoing concern with this Bucks squad. The supporting cast beyond Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and the declining core is a potential issue. Milwaukee doesn’t have much financial flexibility to speak of and will be heavily dependent on the production of Gary Trent Jr., Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton. Without meaningful leaps from MarJon Beauchamp and (or) Andre Jackson Jr., the Bucks’ depth will leave much to be desired.<\/p>\n