Ever since Jimmy Butler landed in the Bay Area, he added fuel to the Warriors’ hopes for their eighth championship. The signing worked wonders for the Dubs nation with the duo of Butler and Stephen Curry leading the Warriors close to another championship. Together, the duo also knocked out the inform Rockets in round 1. However, just when everything was going right for the Dubs nation, they faced their biggest nightmare when Curry’s season ended with a hamstring injury during Game 1 vs Minnesota. Well, the Warriors somehow did win the Game, but his absence was felt during the rest of the series.

“I am pretty positive that if we had Steph, we’d have won this series,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob said after Game 5. Butler, who has been brilliant for the Warriors since the beginning, also looked clueless throughout the series, if not for one standout performance in Game 3. As a unit, Steve Kerr’s team simply looked incomplete without their marquee. “I know we had a shot. I know we could’ve gone the distance,” HC Kerr admitted following Game 5 loss. Reflecting on the postseason exit, Curry also opened up about why this defeat hurts more to the team.

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.