A huge new report on Tuesday seems to finally end the years of rumors about the New York Knicks trying to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. And that’s a good thing.
The Knicks are, arguably, the best team in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. It is a status that comes after they reached the conference finals in the spring, and two top competitors — the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers — will be without their best players in the upcoming season.
Yet, that did not stop the speculation this summer of the team shaking up the roster and going after nine-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Especially after the Milwaukee Bucks were again ousted in the opening round of the NBA playoffs last season. Yet, such a trade seemed unlikely because the Greek superstar has always made it clear he wants to finish his career in Milwaukee.
Well, not so fast, because a new report from ESPN’s Shams Charania claims there actually were talks about the Knicks trading for the two-time NBA MVP in August.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo stats: 30.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 BPG
Knicks-Giannis trade talks did not go far
According to Charania, Antetokounmpo and general manager Jon Horst met in Greece to clear the air and make sure the team legend would be back in Milwaukee this season. After their talk, the Bucks and their star did look at potential options elsewhere. The Knicks ended up being the only one that made sense for both sides.
In August, the two teams reportedly began trade discussions. However, Bucks sources told Charania they felt “New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade.” That offer may not have been one Milwaukee took seriously because Knicks sources also claimed “the Bucks never were serious about entertaining an Antetokounmpo trade.”
Even if both sides were serious, a trade would be very difficult to make because the Knicks exhausted much of the impressive draft assets they once had in a pair of blockbuster trades last year for Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges.
“Those maneuvers left New York’s pool of non-player assets limited to one first-round pick, three pick swaps, and eight second-rounders, essentially decimating its ability to make an overwhelming offer to Milwaukee,” Charania wrote this week.
Giannis trade rumors ending is a good thing for the Knicks
The Knicks enter the 2025-26 NBA season with one of the best rosters in the league and several top 50 players. They will bring back the core that helped them reach the East Finals last season, and improved the bench greatly by adding Jordan Clarkson, Malcolm Brogdon, and Guerschon Yabusele. This is a roster that can get to the NBA Finals next spring.
There are always growing pains in year one when adding a major player to the roster. Last season, the Knicks added two. Furthermore, there is a belief that moving on from head coach Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with Mike Brown will make a huge difference this season. Because it will maximize the offensive talent on the roster and their bench. Keeping their stars healthy for the postseason.
This roster has earned getting one more crack at a Finals run, and removing the cloud of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade is a good thing. It shows the organization is fully behind the group they have, and there will be no major changes this year as long as they play up to their potential.
If this team disappoints in a season perfectly set up to end the franchise’s 52-year championship drought, then a trade for Antetokounmpo can be revisited next summer. Assuming the NBA superstar doesn’t win another title with Milwaukee this season.
