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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 28, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The New York Knicks have reached the conference finals in back-to-back years and are in the middle of their most successful era in this century, led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, a strong starting lineup, and first-year head coach Mike Brown. Still, regardless of where the Knicks finish this season, a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade looms.
Previously, New York was atop Antetokounmpo’s list of preferred trade destinations, but after their recent playoff run, those rumors have died down a bit.
However, as Shams Charania recently reported, the Milwaukee Bucks are now open to hearing trade offers for Antetokounmpo, and the Knicks are once again in the mix. In a recent article on ESPN.com, Bobby Marks revealed New York’s path to landing perhaps the biggest trade asset in recent NBA memory, and it won’t come easy.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks heads for the net as Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks defends at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 2025 in New York City.
Writing about all of the teams rumored to be linked to an Antetokounmpo trade with the Bucks, Marks outlined where the Knicks sit heading into the offseason for a trade adding the 2021 Finals MVP.
“Would a second straight conference finals appearance and a possible spot in the NBA Finals put a freeze on Antetokounmpo trade talks? As reported last October, New York was the only team Antetokounmpo was willing to play for outside of Milwaukee,” Marks wrote. “Trading for Antetokounmpo and remaining below the second apron likely would require New York to send a combination of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. The Knicks could also swap Karl-Anthony Towns straight up but that option is likely less appealing for Milwaukee.”
As has been the case for nearly a year, it appears the Knicks would be forced to trade a few of their four starters outside of Brunson, who looks to be untouchable in trade talks. Additionally, while fans have quieted a bit on their concerns about the picks New York gave up in the Bridges trade, they are still without many draft assets that would make the Bucks more inclined to consider what they could offer in a deal.
“The Bridges trade from Brooklyn has left New York with its own first in June along with a first in 2033,” Marks added about the 2024 offseason trade for the wing. “They also have the right to swap firsts in 2030, 2032 and 2033.”
But regardless, the Knicks have a lot of summer decisions to make with their upcoming free agents, and a lot of that, in terms of who they choose to bring back, as well as the front office weighing an Antetokounmpo trade, could come down to how and where they finish in the 2026 playoffs.
“There will certainly be a temptation to chase Giannis again, especially if the Knicks lose in consecutive conference finals. But with few first-round picks to trade, New York all but certainly would need to part ways with half its starting lineup.”
Towns would be the one name almost certainly in a deal for Antetokounmpo, and if the Knicks were to have had an early playoff exit, there was the expectation that New York would become more active in trade talks for Milwaukee’s superstar.
However, Towns has elevated his play in the postseason, and though Antetokounmpo has a stronger career resume, the Knicks’ current center is making a strong case for why he should be kept around.
Still, as it would likely take another team and New York to cut ties with Towns and either Bridges or Anunoby, and potentially even more assets, a deal for Antetokounmpo wouldn’t come cheap or easy.
“As for Milwaukee, do Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby present that win-now player, or would another deal — or a third team — be necessary to pick up additional draft capital and young players?” Marks asked.
But regardless, Antetokounmpo has expressed interest in playing for the Knicks, and they were the first team linked to a trade for him late in the 2025 NBA offseason.
“New York emerged as the only team Giannis Antetokounmpo desired outside of Milwaukee in the offseason, sources told ESPN, and the Knicks and Bucks engaged in talks for a window of time,” Charania wrote in a post on X, linking an article detailing Antetokounmpo’s offseason weighing a potential trade last summer.
New York emerged as the only team Giannis Antetokounmpo desired outside of Milwaukee in the offseason, sources told ESPN, and the Knicks and Bucks engaged in talks for a window of time.
Inside the clouds leaving Giannis’ future hanging in the balance:
The Knicks recent success could mean it’s more likely they keep their current core together, but as seen last season, a flameout in the conference finals could mean changes are coming.
For now, it looks like an Antetokounmpo trade is on the table, and while New York might not have the young talent and draft picks the Bucks are looking for, they remain near the top of the list for teams that could land the superstar this offseason, regardless of how much they’ll be forced to give up.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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