When the Knicks and Bucks discussed the possibility of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade in August, New York made Jalen Brunson “untouchable,” team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.
The news comes as no surprise, given that the goal of an Antetokounmpo trade for the Knicks would be to pair him with Brunson, not have him replace the star point guard.
With Brunson off limits and Mikal Bridges not eligible to be moved at that time due to his recently signed extension, it stands to reason that Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson were likely among the players discussed by the two sides, Amick writes.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier this week that the Knicks and Bucks spoke about Antetokounmpo over the summer after the star forward expressed some concerns about his team’s championship upside and conveyed that New York would be the only team he’d be interested in if he were to leave Milwaukee.
However, Charania stressed that those discussions didn’t gain any traction, with the Bucks making it clear they wanted to hang onto the two-time MVP and New York not making a compelling enough pitch to force them to reconsider that stance.
The Knicks have already traded away several future first-round picks, so any offer they made for a star like Antetokounmpo would have to be player-heavy in terms of value. And even if the Bucks had interest in some of those players, New York has concerns about the potential roster imbalance that sort of blockbuster trade would create, according to Amick.
While subsequent reports, including this one from The Athletic, have confirmed that those trade talks generated no momentum, Amick says this development was definitely “not nothing.” He refers to it as “nothing short of an escalation,” since it’s the strongest signal yet that Antetokounmpo is considering options outside of Milwaukee.
[RELATED: Bucks’ Antetokounmpo, Rivers Address Giannis Trade Rumors]
Although the Knicks were the only team to have a conversation with the Bucks about Giannis this offseason, many more teams around the league would be ready to pursue him if he were ever to be made available, according to Amick, who suggests that the 30-year-old’s future in Milwaukee could be largely determined by what happens this coming season. Giannis only has one more guaranteed year on his contract beyond 2025/26, with a player option for ’27/28.
What is Giannis thinking? He seems to be indecisive and I don’t see how any deal involving New York wouldn’t leave them with very similar challenges MIL is facing. Am I missing something?
There is no trade from NYK, that doesnt include Brunson, where MIL would say yes even with Giannis trying to push for it. Unless they say, “we will take whatever the best package is from the team you want to go to, and were cool with that”, NYK cant even get in the conversation. 10 teams would give you more for Giannis knowing up front he will leave in 2 seasons.
That’s what I’m getting at. In what world does MIL accept a package that doesn’t also leave NY in the same or worse shape then they currently are? How does Giannis not see this? And if he does then we’re back to my first question – what is he thinking?
He’s thinking he’d like to live in NYC.
For these purposes the whole roster was untouchable. In no world were MIL taking KAT/OG for Giannis, and that is about the best package they could make. They literally have no draft picks, KAT was and may still be a negative value contract, and OG is probably overpaid as well as being off injured.
Its laughable how much press coverage these talks are getting when MIL probably hung up on them within 30 sec. Brunson is literally the only really valuable asset they could move.
KAT = neutral at best with the dollars on his deal
OG = up after last season, but not very positive with his injury history of the last 5 seasons, and the fact they gave him the full bag
Bridges = down from last summer by a lot, and despite getting a non max he is also un tradable after the extension
Brunson = positive value, not enough for Giannis on his own, since Brunson isnt close to one of the 3 best players in the world
Whats even in the ballpark of a fair deal Brunson+OG? Then your what Giannis/Bridges and scrubs… that teams worse than the current MIL one. NYK spent all their draft capital on guys that are worth less than when they got them.
Brunson + OG is not even close to enough…
Sengun, Amen, Smith Jr seems closer to ball park and they are youyng, though they probably wouldn’t do it
I dont think its a very good package, but its getting into the range where they dont just tell you to f*** off and hang up.
As a Rockets fan that package makes Stone hang up and tell them to f*** off. This is turning into basically the same situation as KD. The teams where he makes sense won’t have the assets and will simply all wait. Everyone insisted the Phoenix would say f*** off if Houston didn’t include one of Amen or Sengun…and please spare me the childish argument that I’m suggesting KD = Giannis as a player or in value. The only teams these guys are willing to go to are large market and Houston is the only large market both in contention and with tradable assets. That’s why it’s like KD’s situation. This is before salary cap implications too.
By “they” I meant the Rockets my man, sorry
I mean theres a lot of nonsense hot stove chatter in the NBA for the clicks. I think most people who know what theyre talking about would have never implied Amen could be part of the package, and I think the eventual package seemed pretty reasonable for an expiring 37 year old.
It really is true though where most teams dont make sense for a lot of these superstar trades, because they either dont have the assets, or are on the wrong timeline. Even OKC would have to start raiding the better players on the roster for premium assets in a deal, where they have a bunch of pick volume, but its all either their own picks that wont be good, or lottery protected firsts. You cant make an OKC trade where hardly any of the 1st round draft assets project to be higher than like 16th in the draft. You probably need to pay a 3:1 ratio at least compared to unprotected 1sts value if they could reasonably end up in the lottery slots 1-4.
A HOU package would probably have to include Sengun, and may need to dip into Amen to put it over the top of all others, unless your dealing pretty much all the draft picks especially all the PHX ones. The PHX picks and Amen are the premium assets you can make godfather offers. While JSj isnt even much more than salary plus the value of like one lightly protected first.
Warriors would offer
Green, Kuminga, Moody and 3 Firsts for Giannis
Salary has matched: Kuminga makes $22 million
KAT and OG are sort of damaged goods
There is absolutely no way that is happening.
How do you constantly get zanier? Is there mold in your house by chance?
I hear lakers are willing to acquire Giannis in exchange for a 12 pack of coors light, bronny james, and a 2034 2nd rd pick
Giannis will need to understand that it’s unlikely that he can end up in a better situation if he asks to be traded.
The acquiring teams would lose too many assets, unless it was primarily draft pick based.
This is why I say Butler to a 3rd team and all the draft assets you can get makes Giannis to GSW a possibility. GSW picks after ’27 are premium assets especially if you can poach most of the young players that are more long term plays.
You can probably get 6/7 1sts and 3 swaps with GSW own picks, and Kuminga Butler going to other teams.
Knicks can move OG and Towns to other teams. Only way to make a Giannis trade. Can’t trade Mitch. He and Giannis would make the core on D. Have to trade Hart two. Too many moving parts for this to ever happen.
Knicks knew they were all in when they traded for Towns. Randle was owed a new deal. So it was worth the gamble for Knicks. Considering Towns was the starting All Star Center in the East his only year as a Knick. I’d say it was a good trade. Now its time to follow up on that. Towns has to play better team D. Having a bench helps manage his mins. What he really needs is a big Defensive PF next to him. Someone who can play at least 20-24 mins. The way you get that is by using Mitch. Probably have to be a three way. That’s the big move the Knicks can still make. Hukporti can backup Towns. Takes 16-18 mins a game. He’s ready for that. This is why I was praying Knicks would buy a late pick. Wolf went #27 to Nets. Konan went #30 to Clippers. And Broome went #35 to Sixers. All big 4s that fit next to Towns. And are older rookies. With all the $$ Dolan wastes. You’d think he or Rose would be smart enough to buy a pick Knicks need.
Its KAT or bust now ……. Knicks and Cavs are favored to win the East. So we are doing fine in NYC.
San Antonio is the best place for Giannis to go. Best for Milwaukee, best for Giannis, and best for NBA.