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One of the biggest takeaways from All-Star Weekend 2019 for fans and speculators across the country was the budding friendship between Celtics guard Kyrie Irving and Warriors super-star Kevin Durant. When it comes to on-court chemistry, however, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo also seem to be forming a strong connection.
STEPH BOUNCE PASS TO A GIANNIS DUNK ?#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/NXiKqf7hLj
— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 18, 2019
All Star weekend is always a time for Warriors fans to fantasize about which megastar the team will add next, and this year, all eyes were on Giannis. While it’s true the he and Steph Curry are friends off the court, according to an article written by Marc Stein of the New York Times on Wednesday, the notion of the Greek Freak playing by The Bay may be more than just a message-board pipe-dream.
Yet it’s likewise undeniably true that Steph and Giannis are buddies who are both represented by the same agency (Octagon) and share a mutual admiration that has resulted in Curry and Antetokounmpo selecting each other first overall with the No. 1 overall picks as captains in the first two All-Star drafts.
I can promise you, furthermore, that the Warriors have internally mused about a run at Giannis — however futile it may prove to be — in the event they can’t convince Kevin Durant to re-sign this summer. Trying to sign the most attractive free agent available is on the first page of the Golden State owner Joe Lacob’s playbook.
It’s no secret that the Warriors front office has been methodical in their pursuit of the best and brightest talent in the NBA whenever it’s available, and if the roster seismically shifts the next two seasons, the Warriors will surely be in the hunt for the Greek Freak.
Of course, all of this news is highly speculative. All of the contract ramifications for the Warriors are highly complex, but essentially, if Durant decides to opt-in for a long term deal after this season, and/or Draymond Green re-ups for another multi-year contract at the end of next season, landing Giannis is off the table.
This All-Star weekend will likely yield nothing in the way of the Warriors signing Giannis, but this is speculation season after all, and it sure is fun to imagine.