Some interesting new rumors will give New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves fans hope about making a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. However, it won’t be before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
There is no bigger story in the NBA right now than where Antetokounmpo will be playing this time next week. After months of speculation that the Milwaukee Bucks legend would be moved this season, the rumors became a reality last week when it was reported that the team had begun listening to trade offers after the two-time MVP informed the organization he was ready for a divorce.
Once the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes opened, the NY Knicks and Timberwolves emerged as one of the four contenders, along with the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat. However, unlike the latter clubs, New York and Minnesota’s chances of completing a deal have quickly diminished due to a belief around the league that they can’t offer the boatload of draft picks Milwaukee wants in a deal.
Giannis Antetokounmpo stats (2025-26): 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists
However, a new report from NBA insider Jake Fischer offers some new hope for the NY Knicks and ‘Wolves.
“It has also been stressed to me that Giannis does care, too, about the arc of his professional story,” Fischer wrote. “You’ll recall my reports from earlier this season that the prospect of helping to end New York’s 50-plus-year title drought has appealed to Antetokounmpo. Ditto for the concept of joining the championship-starved Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards as the difference-making force that enables the Wolves to get over the hump finally.”
There is a belief that Antetokounmpo will influence where he goes because he can hang the possibility of opting out of his deal after next season if he lands with an undesirable team. So if he wants to go to New York or Minnesota, there is a good chance he ends up there.
Most expect Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to happen this summer
However, if the nine-time All-Star does end up in New York or Minnesota, it likely may not happen until the offseason. In a separate report, Fischer also claimed, “I still think as of now it is more likely than not that Giannis remains a member of the Bucks beyond Thursday’s deadline, and the front office starts to sift through all this intel and all of the negotiations and conversations they’ve had right now with a better understanding of situations this summer.”
Tim Bontemps of ESPN also reports that an NBA executive told him, “Everyone is preparing for this to happen in the summer.”
If Giannis Antetokounmpo only wants to go to the NY Knicks or Timberwolves, and they don’t win a championship this spring, making a trade — and adding more teams to a deal — will be easier to get done than it might be before this week’s trade deadline.
