ESPN has reported that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has shown genuine interest in joining the New York Knicks. According to sources, the Bucks and Knicks held talks over the summer about Giannis’s desire to be traded to New York if his time in Milwaukee were to end. The conversations were described as exploratory and did not generate significant traction, ESPN said.
For years, it has been well known across NBA circles that the Knicks have closely monitored Giannis’s situation. The franchise’s interest dates back several seasons, and for the first time, reports now indicate that interest may be mutual.
Knicks beat writer James L. Edwards III and national reporter Fred Katz analyzed the situation, offering insight into how these preliminary talks came to light and how they align with New York’s aggressive approach to acquiring stars.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly showed interest in joining the Knicks, with discussions taking place between Milwaukee and New York this past summer.
- The Knicks lack the draft picks and young assets to make a competitive offer, limiting their ability to trade for a player of Giannis’s caliber.
- Both teams face critical decisions ahead: Milwaukee must either build a title contender to keep Giannis, while New York must decide if pursuing him is worth sacrificing its strong core.
How the Trade Rumors Emerged
When asked if he was surprised that Milwaukee and New York discussed a trade, Edwards said he wasn’t.
“The Knicks have been eying the statuses of several household NBA names over the years, per league sources, and Antetokounmpo is at the top of the list,” he explained.
Edwards also said that Giannis’s preference for New York isn’t surprising. Antetokounmpo has often spoken about his admiration for the city, his enjoyment of playing at Madison Square Garden, and his continued desire to compete for another NBA title.
What caught Edwards off guard was that Milwaukee was reportedly willing to engage in the conversation at all. He pointed out that the Knicks lack the future assets needed to entice a franchise to part with a generational player like Giannis.
To illustrate the tone of the talks, Edwards humorously imagined how they might have been behind closed doors:
Giannis: “If you trade me, I’d like to go to New York.”
Jon Horst (Bucks GM): “OK, let me call them and see what they have to offer.”
Leon Rose (Knicks president): “Hey, Jon! Finally ready to trade Giannis?”
Horst: “No, but I’ll hear what you have to offer …”
Rose: “You can have Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and a bunch of bad picks.”
Horst: click
Katz added that this approach aligns perfectly with the Knicks’ reputation for diligence and league-wide engagement.
“New York is notoriously known for calling around the league, gauging the market from stars to scrubs,” Katz said. “More than once, I’ve spoken with executives who wondered whether a Knicks call stemmed from genuine interest or just homework.”
This “always-checking” strategy is the Knicks’ identity, Katz said, especially when a player names them directly, as ESPN reported Giannis did.
Knicks’ Offseason Moves and Timing
Katz revealed that one reason the Knicks delayed finalizing Mikal Bridges’ contract extension this offseason was their anticipation of potential movement around Antetokounmpo.
“Once Bridges signed, he wouldn’t become trade-eligible for six months,” Katz explained. “The front office didn’t want to commit if Giannis suddenly became available.”
Eventually, New York signed Bridges early enough to maintain trade flexibility before the February deadline, but by then, it was clear Giannis wasn’t being moved.
Antetokounmpo remains one of basketball’s most valuable players, a two-time MVP and perennial All-Star whose presence guarantees 40-plus wins a season. But New York’s asset base is limited. Following last year’s massive trades for Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks no longer hold meaningful draft leverage.
They possess pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032, plus a 2026 protected first-round pick via Washington that will likely become two second-rounders. They lack enticing young prospects. As a result, their trade packages can’t match those of teams like the Houston Rockets or San Antonio Spurs, who hold deep collections of draft picks and young talent.
Sports Betting Markets React Cautiously
While news of Giannis’s reported interest in New York captured headlines, the betting markets reacted with caution. Despite speculation that a blockbuster trade could shift the NBA landscape, sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM left odds largely unchanged.
As of early October 2025, the Knicks remain in the +850 to +1000 range to win the NBA championship, according to consensus data aggregated from DraftKings and Covers. Their Eastern Conference odds sit near +340, while BetMGM lists their win total at 53.5 games (-110).
The Milwaukee Bucks, by contrast, are viewed as a long shot, priced between +5000 and +7500 to win the title and projected for 42.5 wins. Analysts attribute those numbers to an aging roster, uncertainty following the Damian Lillard trade, and limited future draft flexibility.
In the MVP race, Giannis’s odds have shifted modestly over the summer. He opened around +700 at DraftKings but has since lengthened to +1200, placing him behind frontrunners like Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Sportsbooks attribute the movement to Milwaukee’s diminished championship outlook rather than individual performance concerns.
Why a Trade Still Doesn’t Add Up
Edwards stressed that even if the Bucks wanted to explore a trade, the Knicks’ limited resources make it nearly impossible. “New York gave away most of its interesting draft capital last summer,” he said, referencing the four unprotected first-round picks, one unprotected pick swap, a protected first-rounder, and a second-round pick traded for Bridges.
Additionally, because Bridges signed his extension on August 1, he is ineligible to be traded until late January. That leaves the Knicks reliant on moving players like Towns, Anunoby, and Josh Hart, whose collective trade value isn’t high enough to sway Milwaukee.
“The combination of those players and bottom-tier picks isn’t blowing the Bucks away,” Edwards said. “I don’t see how the Knicks could land Antetokounmpo without at least one more team being involved.”
Katz agreed that potential offers from Houston or San Antonio, with young talent and high-value draft assets, would likely eclipse anything New York could put together. Still, he pointed out that the NBA’s trade environment is fluid.
“What if Antetokounmpo’s first choice is New York and the Bucks honor his wishes?” Katz said. “What if he makes it clear he’ll re-sign only there? That could shrink the market fast.”
Should the Knicks Even Want Giannis Right Now?
Edwards took a surprising position when asked whether New York should pursue Giannis immediately.“I can’t believe I’m going to say this … No,” he admitted. “They should want him — but not at this point, not with what it would cost.”
He pointed to the NBA’s new first- and second-apron rules, which punish teams with oversized payrolls and little depth. “The winners of both conferences last season were among the deepest teams in the league,” he said. “The Knicks would have to give up multiple starters just to have a shot.”
Currently, New York has four players who would start on any NBA team and three others who could start elsewhere. The roster is balanced, and the Eastern Conference has been weakened by key injuries. “The Knicks are in a great position to compete right now,” Edwards said. “I don’t see the need to risk the future when the present already looks good.”
Katz echoed that sentiment that the decision may resolve itself over time.“If the Knicks jell under new coach Mike Brown and run away with the East, Giannis might not be worth the cost,” he said. “But if they disappoint, adding a generational talent could quickly become an option again.”
