Austin Konenski
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future with the Milwaukee Bucks will be the biggest storyline of the 2026-27 NBA offseason. After heavy rumors at the NBA trade deadline, the Bucks kept Antetokounmpo, but the relationship didn’t improve. Instead, the Bucks forward’s future became even more obvious.
Milwaukee wants a solution on Antetokounmpo by the 2026 NBA Draft, which will begin in just over one month. Antetokounmpo will be the biggest fish on the trade market during the 2026 NBA offseason, and many organizations are expected to be in the mix.
This seems like a real possibility, so what would it actually take for Antetokounmpo to end up in New York? Here is what needs to happen for the New York Knicks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo must request trade with New York as a destination
This all starts with Antetokounmpo. If the Knicks want to pull off one of their biggest trades in franchise history, the 31-year-old forward has to request a trade from Milwaukee. Then, Antetokounmpo has to include New York as one of his preferred destinations.
Luckily for the Knicks, this shouldn’t be a problem. Antetokounmpo has eyes on New York and would love to play in the Big Apple. Therefore, if Antetokounmpo requests a trade, the Knicks will inevitably be in contention. It just comes down to what Antetokounmpo wants to do moving forward.
Does Antetokounmpo want to stay in Milwaukee and build his legacy with one team? If the Bucks commit to building a great team around Antetokounmpo, it could sway his mind from a trade. Nevertheless, the damage from the 2025-26 NBA season might be too much to overcome.
In that case, the Knicks would be one of Antetokounmpo’s top landing spots in a potential trade. However, does New York need a reason to trade for Antetokounmpo this summer?
New York Knicks need a reason to chase Antetokounmpo this summer
The Knicks are about to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. New York has made the conference finals for the second straight NBA season, as Jalen Brunson continues to lead the organization to new levels. However, a trade for Antetokounmpo might become more difficult in the coming weeks.
Would a second straight conference finals appearance derail an Antetokounmpo deal? What about an appearance in the NBA Finals? If the Knicks go on to beat the Cavaliers and make the 2026 NBA Finals, it may sway the team away from a drastic move for the 31-year-old star.
To stay under the second apron, the Knicks would likely have to trade a combination of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. Since New York doesn’t have many first-round picks to give Milwaukee, it would all but certainly have to trade half of its starting lineup. This may not be appealing for a team so close to a championship.
After all, Antetokounmpo has dealt with injuries over the last few seasons, and one unlucky health issue could derail the Knicks. For New York to trade for Antetokounmpo, it needs a reason to chase him this summer. More than likely, it would require the Knicks to be eliminated by the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
Antetokounmpo is interested in joining the Knicks, but the organization might not be in a true position to swing a trade this offseason.
Read More: Miami Heat Predicted to Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2026 Offseason
