If Giannis Antetokounmpo was going to leave the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason, there was only one other franchise he wanted to join. Antetokounmpo reportedly had interest in joining the New York Knicks, though no deal materialized, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
While both the Bucks and Knicks reportedly engaged in trade talks during the offseason, it doesn’t sound like a deal came close. The Bucks reportedly wanted to keep Antetokounmpo and the Knicks couldn’t offer an enticing enough deal for the superstar. Talks between the teams apparently stretched out over weeks, with the Knicks ultimately deciding the Bucks were never that serious about making a deal, per Charania.
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Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee came into question the instant the Bucks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs. It was the third straight year in which Milwaukee was eliminated from the postseason in the first round.
Those struggles, combined with Antetokounmpo’s stated desire to play for a championship contender, had some wondering whether the two-time MVP would demand a trade in the offseason. Despite reportedly settling on the Knicks as a possible trade destination, it doesn’t appear Antetokounmpo demanded a trade.
The Bucks are in a transition period after yet another early playoff loss. Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton all left in the offseason and the team didn’t have many avenues to add elite talent after trading away first-round picks. Despite those limitations, the team was able to add Myles Turner, which should help.
Still, the team finds itself with a low 42.5 over/under win total for the 2025-26 NBA season. The team hasn’t finished under that total since the 2016-17 season, before Antetokounmpo emerged as a true MVP candidate.
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Despite potentially having a shot at Antetokounmpo, the Knicks didn’t let the possibility of a trade hold them back in the offseason. New York signed Mikal Bridges to an extension and added Malcolm Brogdon and Jordan Clarkson on free-agent deals. The team also retained the core that led it to the Eastern Conference finals last season. Even without Antetokounmpo, the Knicks are once again expected to be a championship contender.
While an offseason trade never materialized, things could change if the Bucks get off to a slow start during the 2025-26 NBA season. If other teams feel Antetokounmpo is available, the Bucks could receive a flurry of trades for their star.
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After draining their resources over the past couple seasons, the Knicks may not have what it takes to get a deal done if Antetokounmpo is truly made available. But given Antetokounmpo’s on-court excellence, the Bucks should get plenty of enticing offers from other franchises if and when the time comes.
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