As much confidence as the post-trade-deadline Warriors provided to the Dub Nation, their season ended in disappointing fashion. Stephen Curry seemed to be on the cusp of returning. And after pulling off a miracle win in Game 1, the Warriors only needed to win one game against the Minnesota Timberwolves to give the Chef a chance to fight. Sadly, their Game 5 loss left Curry devoid of that opportunity, and the Warriors with more questions than answers.

As a unit, the team looked incomplete without Stephen Curry. Jimmy Butler had one standout performance, but with his age, relying on him to go nuclear doesn’t seem wise. Inside the locker room, as dejected as the players are, they still feel their group is close. “The only solace you can really take was that we had a chance. It’s kind of the ultimate gut-punch because of that. Makes it worse. You just don’t want to go out like that.” Curry told The Athletic.

However, the positive that the team could take is that Butler and Stephen Curry together can form a championship core. That was how the Warriors intended it to be. And even though the Wolves highlighted the Warriors’ reliance on the two-time MVP, he is confident in his dynamic with Jimmy Butler for the rest of their window.

“On the surface, that’s why he signed for two more years — our belief we can make it work. And we’ve proven that the last three months. Just gotta figure out what is going to get us to the next level as a whole. One guy can’t win it. Two guys can’t win it. It’s gotta be a team,” Curry further said about the Warriors.

In 30 games together, the Butler-Curry tandem led the Warriors to a 23-7 record. It was the biggest factor that allowed them to be in the postseason picture. With their great synergy, the team has every reason to trust their star tandem. The only reason to break the settled partnership would be the opening of a blockbuster move.

Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on the market. However, there’s a major obstacle for the Warriors that might keep them from even chasing the Greek Freak.

Can the Warriors charm Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Similar to Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been through a few struggles in his recent years in Milwaukee. Over the last three years, the Bucks haven’t been out of the first round. And with his fervour to remain competitive, the two-time MVP has invited the possibility of breaking his loyalty to Wisconsin.

Naturally, Antetokounmpo being in his peak and a franchise-altering forward, most teams will be tempted to make offers. However, until now, it seemed the Warriors had an edge. During the All-Star festivities, Antetokounmpo was the only non-Warrior to attend Curry’s party.

It proved the admiration he holds for the Baby Face Assassin. That could majorly bolster the Warriors’ chances to land the dominant forward. But the recent update doesn’t bode well for the Warriors.

According to Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, Antetokounmpo is firm on one part of his departure. “Multiple league sources tell me that if a trade were ever to materialize, Giannis Antetokounmpo would prefer to remain in the Eastern Conference,” he wrote in his report. The Bucks icon’s reason for the same is to control his own future.

He wants to have a say in the franchise’s decisions regarding players and major matters. Within the Warriors, they are already loyal to Stephen Curry in that regard. Those two parameters make it extremely hard for the Warriors to make a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Of course, some things do swing in their favor. The Warriors are a tempting franchise for upcoming stars. Furthermore, it could also promise the keys of the franchise to Giannis Antetokounmpo for the future. But doing that would mean parting ways with some of their major pieces for the future.

If the Warriors are willing to spend heavily to land the Greek Freak, maybe he will consider leaving the East. But as of right now, it looks improbable fr the Bay to make major changes to their current roster. Do you think that’s the right approach to keep their title window open? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.