Finally, it appears the Milwaukee Bucks will attempt to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the New York Knicks are set up on the front lines for the 10x All-Star.
After many months of speculation, Giannis and his agents are ready to turn the page on Milwaukee, and rightfully so. The Bucks are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, a roster decimated by bad decision after bad decision that has run out of answers to surround their franchise player. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news Wednesday morning that Milwaukee is listening to trade offers for Giannis.
The New York Knicks started the season 23–11 in the first three months, winning the annual NBA Cup. However, a massive 2–8 slide in January triggered many reports of New York’s internal issues between the coaching staff and core players like Karl-Anthony Towns.
Here are the pros and cons New York should consider if they pull the trigger on a deal for Giannis.
Pros: Breaking up with Karl-Anthony Towns
A lot of Karl-Anthony Towns’ issues on the offensive end stem from his lack of buy-in with new head coach Mike Brown’s system.
Both have clashed since October. With rumors swirling last summer about the Knicks’ pursuit of Giannis, Towns reportedly has been feeling betrayed by the front office that traded for him just a year ago. Towns has posted career-worst numbers this season, and the concerning part is that he has not shown improvement over the course of the year.
Towns is fifth in the NBA in offensive fouls, and he is shooting 36% from three, his worst mark since his 2015–16 rookie season. Another layer to Towns’ struggles is his ability to finish inside. Somehow, Towns has managed to shoot 51% from two, dropping a full 5% from last season.
Towns can make claims about how hard the coaching system is, but he is not playing to the back of his basketball card.
Con: Potentially Risking the Season
If the Knicks were to acquire Giannis midseason, they would break up most of their core, starting with Towns, and would have to deal with Giannis’ calf injury post-trade.
Giannis’ calf injuries are serious for a near seven-footer. Any team acquiring him will have to be cautious. With the number of players the Knicks would potentially trade to get him, they would likely have to wait until mid-to-late March to get Giannis close to 100 percent for the playoffs.
““He did a very good job. MRI has revealed exactly what we thought,” said Doc Rivers on Giannis’ injury. “There’s no timetable. Calf strain, and really no timetable for return. Hopefully, like it was before, sooner, but there’s no timetable.”
The best time for the Knicks to trade for Giannis is next summer, when they unlock a future first-round pick and can deal their own first on draft night, plus the Wizards’ high second-rounder (assuming they do not trade it at the deadline). That would give New York time to retool around Brunson and Giannis instead of dealing with limited options during the season.
Pro: New York is the Perfect Home for Giannis
When was the last time the Knicks were in the mix for a superstar who is on record for loving Madison Square Garden as much as Giannis does?
“There’s strong belief leaguewide Giannis desires one destination above all the rest if he actually fully asks out someday: New York,” said NBA insider Jake Fischer. “I’ve even heard that the rowdy fanbase outside MSG after playoff Ws…resonate, given his fondness for…basketball and soccer clubs in Europe.”
Carmelo Anthony was the last player who desperately wanted to become a New York Knick, and the front office made it happen. It is rare to find superstars who genuinely want to play in New York, talk to the media, and become ambassadors for the organization.
Giannis has the mentality and spirit to win that connects with the fanbase. He and Jalen Brunson would instantly become the most recognizable and loved tandem by Knicks fans this century.
New York is also ideal for Giannis off the court. As of 2023, New York has the largest Greek population in the country, with over 138,000 statewide and nearly half in New York City. Giannis is a legend in Greece, and his impact on the Greek community in NYC is significant. Traveling between New York and Greece also makes life easier for him and his family.
Con: The Knicks should focus on the Title Run
New York is one of the last teams in the NBA that needs to show desperation.
Many can argue that the Knicks already have the personnel and experience to win a championship. They do not need Giannis to come in and save them like Miami or Golden State; they already have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. Knicks president Leon Rose tried to rebuild their bench last summer, but Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson have been borderline unplayable.
The Knicks’ biggest need is bench depth, particularly a defensive guard. Marginal additions to a team with a real path to win the East may matter more than trading for Giannis unless the Knicks believe this core is truly inadequate.
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