How can the Golden State Warriors improve? That is the question of the hour, as the team is expected to make some major changes during the ongoing off-season. After Jimmy Butler’s acquisition back in February, it was felt that the team had reached championship-competing caliber. Once the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated them in a 5-game Conference Semi-Finals series, however, that thought evaporated. As Athlon Sports reporter Nathaniel Holloway highlighted, the Bay Area franchise has one main area of focus that they must fill this summer, which is the center. Amidst all the names that are being touted as an acquisition, however, one of them has recently been standing out the most. And no, it isn’t Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Bleacher Report journalist Grant Hughes recently put out a trade proposal which sees Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis heading to the Golden State Warriors! In exchange, the Warriors receive a wide list of star players, including Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Gui Santos.

It is no secret that Stephen Curry and co have struggled at the Center, and Draymond Green has been filling in consistently as a small-ball center. While that was good for the regular season, however, it took its toll during the playoffs. Green himself admitted to this, stating, “It was real because playing the five, it’s hard. And I’m always down to do it, as you know, like any challenge you throw my way, I’ll take on the challenge, but it’s hard battling every night guys who outweigh me by 60 to 80 pounds, and they’re four inches or five inches, seven inches taller than me. It does take a toll”.

The need of the hour is for a player who can take the pressure off Draymond Green and improve the starting lineup of the team. Kristaps Porzingis is a 7-foot-2 star, just 1 inch shorter than Victor Wembanyama, who also boasts a 7-foot-6 wingspan. He can pull up from Steph Curry range, and despite not being one of the best shot-blockers in the league, he does enough to deter players from scoring at will in the paint. On top of that, he can shoot the midrange as well, and back his opponent down efficiently. You don’t average 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in a season by simply prioritizing the defensive end.

Furthermore, Porzingis is extremely mobile for his height and a very good rim protector who does not pick up too many fouls. When you’re playing alongside someone like Draymond Green,  you certainly do not need to pick up any more fouls.

Having Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Golden State Warriors would certainly go a long way in making the team unstoppable. The Speculative Big 3, aka Stephen Curry, Giannis, and Jimmy Butler, can potentially crush anyone who comes their way. However, the need of the hour is a center. A role that Kristaps Porzingis can fill well. Furthermore, even if ‘The Greek Freak looks to leave the Bucks, Milwaukee might be hoping that the coach’s presence does not allow him to.

Can Doc Rivers be enough to keep Giannis with the Bucks?

In his recent report, NBA journalist Marc Stein discussed the possibility of Giannis Antetokounmpo staying in Milwaukee. Upon a first glance, anyone speculating about a Giannis trade might come off as absurd. After all, he’s the cornerstone of the Milwaukee Bucks. He had just inked a 3-year, $186 million extension.

However, in the aftermath of another disappointing playoff run, whispers of a trade have turned into chatter. It is not as if the player won’t have every team vying for his attention if he chooses to enter the trade market. Therefore, fearing this, there is a possibility that the Bucks front office might have turned to the one person who can persuade Giannis to stay: Doc Rivers.

“The Bucks are also hoping that the presence of Rivers as coach can provide some sort of boost,” Stein wrote. “Antetokounmpo and Rivers are believed to have a strong working relationship, which Rivers — annoyed as he clearly was to be greeted by paparazzi outside of a Beverly Hills restaurant a few days ago — apparently tried to convey by telling TMZ: ‘I talk to him all the time.’”

If the head coach has undertaken this responsibility, then he has a hard task ahead of him. After all, the Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs 3 years in a row. They have won only one postseason series since their championship win in 2021 against the Phoenix Suns.

Doc Rivers is surely someone whom ‘The Greek Freak’ respects. He often came to the coach’s defense, just like he once did by saying, “Doc is doing his best, he’s trying. He’s trying to figure out the rotation; he’s giving us the best speech possible. Changing our defensive plan, changing our offensive plan. He’s trying to adjust, make something happen, create a spark.”

Furthermore, Giannis certainly has a better relationship with Rivers than he did with his previous coach, Adrian Griffin. However, given the Bucks’ poor track record, just having Doc Rivers is not enough to compete. Especially in the East, where teams like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers continue to be a threat.

Despite the speculation, Giannis is yet to officially request a trade. Therefore, it is hard to know where his mind is leaning. If it is leaning towards leaving, however, then he better hurry. The Golden State Warriors might close the door after acquiring Kristaps Porzingis.