How New York Knicks Can Land Giannis Antetokounmpo This Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New York Knicks, after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo already this offseason. With Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart coming under fire for their poor play in the postseason, both players could be put on the trade block.
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In an effort to land Giannis, the Knicks can’t offer a future-driven package like the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, or Brooklyn Nets can, but they could offer more win-now talent than anyone else, allowing the Milwaukee Bucks to return to contention once Damian Lillard recovers from an Achilles tear.
However, the path for the Knicks to land the Greek Freak is convoluted and a bit of a long shot.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls the ball against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden.Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Knicks sent the vast majority of their draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves in order to add Towns and Mikal Bridges this offseason. While they boast win-now talent for the Bucks to build around, they don’t really have much in the way of young talent.
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Yahoo’s Tom Haberstroh built a mock trade that, in theory, could get the job done.
Full Mock Trade Details
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Knicks receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Bucks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyler Kolek, 2026 protected first-round pick (via WSH), first-round pick swaps (2026 and 2030).
If the Knicks add Giannis next to Jalen Brunson, it stands to reason that those pick swaps won’t convey, as the Knicks will be loaded with talent, making them nearly worthless. Towns and Lillard should be able to compete for a playoff spot, but there is currently no timeline for Lillard’s return, and the defense would be severely lacking.
With 29 teams having some interest in Antetokounmpo, the Knicks simply can’t compete with the offers the Bucks will receive.
Check out the All Knicks home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
