New York Knicks fans continue to dream about the possibility of pairing Giannis Antetokounmpo with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. And with each update, it seems increasingly likely that he will soon be a member of the Knicks.
According to NBA Insider Marc Stein (subscription required), teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and the San Antonio Spurs aren’t expected to pursue Giannis. That takes two major trade suitors off the board, which is obviously great for New York.
Better still, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, NBA teams are hesitant about trading multiple firsts. That would seemingly work to the Knicks’ benefit, with them having few tradeable picks available.
Instead, they could likely offer up OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Tyler Kolek for Giannis, but that wouldn’t be a great return for the Bucks for Giannis. However, Anunoby and Hart would have trade value for Milwaukee, and Kolek could eventually develop into a starting-caliber guard.
However, if Giannis only wants to play in New York, then they may not have much of a choice.
The stars may be aligned for the Knicks to land Giannis
New York’s best shot to land Giannis is if he were to force his way off the Bucks and to New York. That might hurt the Bucks in terms of return value. Then again, the trade market might be surprisingly slim for Giannis.
With the Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the Spurs not expected to pursue him, the Knicks may have to compete with teams such as the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks could put together a surprisingly strong offer, likely even besting what New York can manage.
Still, that may be a moot point if Giannis makes it clear he has no interest in playing with the Hawks. This would position New York as the front-runner for Giannis, should he become officially available this season.
Adding Giannis would be a game-changer for the Knicks
After winning the NBA Cup, the Knicks proved they have what it takes to contend for a championship this season. However, they have yet to beat the Thunder, the overwhelming favorites to win it all.
They could still contend if they make the NBA Finals, but they would be the clear underdogs. That is unless, of course, they add Giannis while keeping Brunson and Towns. In that case, they could give the Thunder a run for their money.
Whether that happens is still a big question mark, but if the Knicks can pull off a heist for Giannis, then they could emerge as the team to beat in the East.
