Nice! The Warriors have awakened! Reports reveal a potential trade for Curry’s successor.

“Recent weeks indicate that Bajemski is very likely to be put on the trading block...”

This season is Bajemski’s third year, yet his development has plateaued. He’s playing 27.7 minutes per game, averaging 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, with a shooting accuracy of 43.6%. Compared to his second year (11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 44.5% shooting), aside from an increase in scoring, all other numbers have dropped.

According to earlier reports from renowned journalist Sidery,the Warriors have entered the bidding war for Giannis Antetokounmpo (making $54.13 million). They could offer Bajemski ($3.69 million) + Kuminga ($22.5 million) + 4 first-round picks as trade assets, while Draymond Green ($25.89 million) might be sent to a third team to balance the trade salaries.

Bajemski was once considered Curry’s heir apparent, but given his current development, he cannot shoulder that responsibility—or rather, the Warriors can’t afford to wait. With only two years left in their championship window, they urgently need to trade pieces for a bigger return. Both Curry’s and Butler’s contracts expire in the summer of 2027.

So far this season, the Warriors have a 12-12 record, sitting eighth in the Western Conference, 2.5 games behind the sixth-place Timberwolves. Clearly, their current roster is only playoff bubble caliber. If securing a direct playoff spot is already challenging, winning a championship seems out of reach.

For Giannis, the Warriors are indeed an attractive destination, mainly because he could team up with Curry. Theoretically, they would be a perfect duo. Adding Butler, who has repeatedly proven himself in playoffs and finals, this trio would be extremely competitive in the entire Western Conference. Plus, playing in a major city like San Francisco meets many of Giannis’s preferences.

However, as mentioned earlier, two years from now, Curry and Butler will likely experience significant declines in performance due to age or even retire, causing the Warriors to fall out of championship contention again, leaving Giannis to carry the team alone once more.

Opportunities and risks coexist; trades are inherently unpredictable gambles.