Warriors Withdraw from Giannis Antetokounmpo Pursuit

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 5, 2026 4:58 AM ET

As the NBA trade deadline approaches at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, 2026, discussions intensify surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks’ star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Miami Heat are making concerted efforts to acquire him while also maintaining interest in Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.

Warriors Withdraw from Giannis Antetokounmpo Pursuit

Recently, ESPN reported that the Golden State Warriors are officially out of the running for Antetokounmpo. Shams Charania disclosed that after several offers, the Warriors determined that Milwaukee is unlikely to trade their star player at this time. Consequently, they shifted focus to other trade opportunities, specifically looking to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks.

Current Contenders for Antetokounmpo

With the Warriors withdrawing, the Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves remain the primary competitors for Antetokounmpo. Miami is particularly motivated to finalize a trade as Antetokounmpo is viewed as their top priority. Brian Windhorst from ESPN has noted that Milwaukee may consider Miami’s offers but also hints at a possibly undisclosed lucrative bid from another team.

Potential Trade Scenarios

For Miami to effectively pursue both Antetokounmpo and Morant, they need to manage their salary cap wisely. Here are two hypothetical deals Miami could consider:

Antetokounmpo Trade: Miami would send out salaries totaling at least $43.5 million. Potential assets could include Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Simone Fontecchio. This package is expected to include multiple first-round picks.
Morant Trade: With Morant earning $39.4 million, Miami could potentially send Terry Rozier, Davion Mitchell, and Keshad Johnson, whose combined salaries reach $40.1 million. This structure would help remove significant long-term salaries from Memphis’ financial commitments.

Implications of Both Trades

Securing Antetokounmpo and Morant would create a formidable trio with Bam Adebayo. However, managing the salary cap could prove challenging. Here are the pros and cons of executing both trades:

Pros

Strong core of Antetokounmpo, Morant, and Adebayo could enhance Miami’s playoff potential.
Retaining Norman Powell could allow Miami to maintain depth after trades.
Flexibility in roster construction, potentially benefiting from available spots and future draft capital.

Cons

Financial limitations may hinder the ability to re-sign key players.
Potential lack of shooting talent among the remaining roster.
Injury histories of both Antetokounmpo and Morant create concerns for long-term stability.

As the deadline nears, Miami’s decisions will significantly impact their future. The pursuit of Antetokounmpo and Morant continues to be a focal point in the league, with implications that could reshape their roster for the upcoming seasons.