The 2025-26 season is just getting off the launchpad, with the Knicks playing their first preseason game at the World’s Most Famous Arena later tonight. Despite all the roster work (mostly) done, there’s still some offseason-like chattering around the Knicks.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped a bombshell article that Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, a topic of much offseason trade speculation, had a preferred destination: New York City.
Woah. Unlike the KD-Kyrie stuff in 2019, this felt more genuine. The Knicks are finally a place to be with their stable infrastructure, existing star talent, and perennial playoff performance. This doesn’t feel like the media trying to find New York a savior; it feels like someone who wants to be the missing piece on a big market contender.
Now, the Knicks and Bucks did discuss a trade in the offseason, but that went nowhere. Obviously, Milwaukee will not trade Giannis unless that situation becomes untenable, and it isn’t at that point yet. That’s fine. But the fact that these discussions happened and that this report was leaked, you have to wonder if the Greek Freak’s eyes are wandering.
Obviously, we’re locked in on 2025-26. The Knicks have a real chance to come out of the Eastern Conference for the first time in 27 years and have real title aspirations. Until the ink is dry on this upcoming season, there’s no use in thinking about next summer. But many wondered what it would take to pry Giannis out of Milwaukee when the report dropped, and that’s what we’ll theorize today.
Can Giannis force his way to New York?
Let’s be honest. The Knicks do not have the best package if Giannis became available. Not even close. Even if the Bucks don’t want picks (more on that later), there are other teams with more to offer.
The only way the Knicks can land the two-time MVP will be some good ol’ fashioned superstar politics.
Say the Bucks’ season goes south and Giannis demands a trade in the offseason. With his contract situation, the Bucks’ hands would be tied. Now, they’re going to do what’s best for them and try to get the best package possible, regardless of Giannis’ feelings. If that sounds ruthless to do to your franchise’s GOAT, just look at what the Blazers did to Damian Lillard.
So, the Knicks would lose a bidding war; we know this. The wild card is Giannis threatening his contract situation. If he says that he will not re-sign with any of the prospective teams except the Knicks, that opens a pathway. Do I find this likely? Probably not. He’s never been the type to be that confrontational, and the threat rings hollow when the Knicks will not be able to sign him in free agency in 2027 due to a lack of cap space.
But that’s a way. Now, what would a package look like?
The Trade Scenarios
The Knicks do not have many draft assets after last year’s Mikal Bridges trade, but they do have something.
- One unprotected first (2033, only available after the 2026 draft)
- Two first-round pick swaps (2030, 2032)
- The Wizards Pick (top-8 protected in 2026, will likely turn into ‘26/’27 seconds)
- 2026 1st Rounder(?) (team can likely trade the player after the draft, trades become official on 7/6)
- Six second-round picks (will become eight if Wizards’ pick doesn’t convey)
They aren’t flush with assets, but they aren’t the post-Bradley Beal trade Suns. Remember, Luka Doncic only went for one first-round pick, and the Knicks’ 2033 pick will be super valuable due to how short championship windows are.
But to get Doncic, the Lakers had to part ways with a top player in basketball, Anthony Davis. The Knicks’ equivalent is probably Karl-Anthony Towns, but the defensive drop-off is definitely considered there. The fit is also questionable, considering Myles Turner was just given a multi-year deal.
They could also go after the Knicks’ wings, trying to pry Bridges or OG Anunoby away. The challenge is going to be not only combating the aprons, but also the needs of the Bucks.
You might be asking why the Bucks would even humor a trade that has them gaining win-now talent. It might seem obvious to rebuild after a Giannis trade… until you look at their pick situation.
Ouch. The smart move from that front office, barring a reconnaissance trade to recover those picks from Portland and New Orleans, would be to at least try to stay above water. They do not have the ability to tank, seeing as they do not control a single one of their own picks until 2031. They are completely at the whims of other teams’ abilities to swap picks.
You’re not able to mock up the trade machine for next offseason, but here are three blueprints based on current contracts:
(Disclaimer: these proposals will be without draft picks, as the best trade asset isn’t in the trade machine so it’s useless to mock it.)
The biggest comparison to the Doncic trade is this, which is almost an exact 1-to-1. A straight-up trade doesn’t work, so I added Deuce McBride’s very inexpensive deal, which at that point will have just one year remaining.
There’s also a scenario where the Bucks wouldn’t want Towns after signing Turner, so here’s a trade that works with Josh Hart and Anunoby.
Lastly, a nuclear option that could lead to a much larger trade if the Bucks want to gut the Knicks’ wing depth.
Ultimately, it’s too far out to think about for much more than a thought experiment. A lot can change, and the Knicks’ flexibility would be hampered by a potential move into the second apron, Mitchell Robinson’s contract, and other factors out of their control. In my eyes, any trade that gets Giannis to New York would require multiple teams to get Milwaukee the draft assets they want while not totally bottoming out.
