Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters before an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in San Francisco.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy seemingly talked himself into a web of lies in one of the most bizarre and tense Golden State press conferences in recent memory.

Before the Warriors lost to the Lakers on Saturday night, Dunleavy met with reporters for 11 minutes to discuss Golden State’s moves around the NBA trade deadline. Dunleavy initially expressed optimism about the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis and said he believes the Latvian center will be healthy enough, despite his medical condition, to play for the Warriors.

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Then Golden State’s failed, for now, pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo came up. Two reporters asked questions about whether or not the extremely public pursuit of the superstar impacted other moves. After all, any trade for a top-name player would have required some of the team’s future first-round picks and, thus, lightened what Golden State had to offer the Bucks. Dunleavy mostly punted on the first question, and then gave a dismissive remark to the second.

“I don’t think it did [affect other moves],” Dunleavy said. “Because we ended up making a move here to get Kristaps. So for that reason, I guess it didn’t really affect anything.”

That flies directly in the face of a report from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. On Thursday, the insider said the Warriors had “extensive conversations” with the Memphis Grizzlies about trading for Jaren Jackson Jr., but then “tabled those conversations” because of a possible Antetokounmpo move and the need for........

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