Giannis Antetokounmpo wouldn’t mind an extended stay at The World’s Most Famous Arena.
The two-time MVP eyed the Knicks as the one team he would entertain a trade to this offseason amid his uncertain Bucks future, according to ESPN.
While the Knicks and Bucks discussed what would have been a seismic trade in August, the talks reportedly never grained traction during what was deemed an exclusive negotiation window.
A potential Antetokounmpo trade to the Knicks is one that would alter the NBA, and this report adds intrigue to the early stages of the Knicks’ and Bucks’ seasons.
There have long been rumors about Knicks president Leon Rose having an affinity for the Greek Freak — surely like most executives in the sport — and how the all-world forward could be the key piece to his Knicks vision.
But that would require the Bucks opting to move the 2021 NBA Finals MVP.
Antetokounmpo and one of his agents met with Bucks general manager Jon Horst in Greece this summer after Horst decided to waive Damian Lillard and bring in ex-Pacers big man Myles Turner, per ESPN.
While the general manager reportedly believed he built a team that could win the Eastern Conference, Antetokounmpo expressed his doubts and raised the idea of a potential separation.
Antetokounmpo’s U.S. representative, Alex Saratsis, received “rampant interest” in his client, and the Knicks emerged as the team to which the star would be willing to head in a trade, per ESPN.
The Bucks reportedly told the Knicks they did not really want to move Antetokounmpo, while Bucks sources told the outlet they felt the Knicks did not make a compelling offer to push talks forward.
ESPN noted that Knicks folks and others around league have long felt Antetokounmpo could land at Madison Square Garden if he truly wanted out of Milwaukee.
The Knicks used the majority of their trade assets last offseason to land Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, and they extended Bridges’ contract this offseason.
They now own just one first-round pick, three picks swaps and eight second-round selections in the near future, per ESPN, which severely limits their chances of wowing Milwaukee with an offer it can’t refuse.
With the talks going nowhere, Antetokounmpo remains a Buck — for now.
Things could come to a head next year when he has just one year left on his contract and is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with Milwaukee, per ESPN.
The Bucks have the seventh-best odds at DraftKings to win the Eastern Conference at 15/1, and rank 14th among all NBA teams with their 50/1 championship odds.
“I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship,” Antetokounmpo said last month, per ESPN. “I think it’s a disservice to basketball, just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
