The New York Knicks have the means to match Giannis Antetokounmpo’s massive salary, although they will not be his next team.
The New York Knicks, even before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, were linked to superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in NBA trade rumors.
In theory, the Knicks can offer Karl-Anthony Towns and rookie Pacôme Dadiet to balance Antetokounmpo’s $54.1 million salary, although the Milwaukee Bucks are not in a situation to win now, especially if they trade away their best player.
The Knicks could also offer high-level role players like Josh Hart and OG Anunoby in a deal, and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst urged fans to “not discount” the Knicks in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
Of course, every team in the league would be interested in Antetokounmpo’s services, and the Knicks simply can’t compete with the offer.
Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesKnicks don’t have draft capital or young talent
If the Bucks trade away the best player in franchise history, it will only be because Antetokounmpo doesn’t believe that he can carry the Bucks to real success. Damian Lillard will likely miss all of next season with an Achilles injury, and trading away the Greek Freak would signal a hard reset.
Towns, Hart, Anunoby, or Miles Bridges are not future assets, they are win-now players, and without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks simply do not have a roster to compete, making those players worthless.
Of course, the Bucks will need to take back an established player to balance salary, although the trade package will have to be supplemented with young talent or draft capital.
The Knicks have two first-round picks they could swap, in 2026 and 2030, although those are hardly assets the Bucks would be interested in.
On top of that, their young talent is limited to 24-year-old Miles McBride, who is not going to ever be a true star. Rookies Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, and Dadiet were not given much playing time this season, and their NBA viability is questionable.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesKnicks will simply be outbid in Antetokounmpo sweepstakes
Teams like the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, and Oklahoma City Thunder can easily match Antetokounmpo’s salary with veterans on expiring contracts and offer solid young talent and substantial draft capital.
Even teams like the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers can offer more in the way of young talent and picks than the Knicks.
While Towns is likely the best player the Bucks can get in a trade for Antetokounmpo, they are not looking for established talent, they would be looking for potential.
While linking a superstar to a massive media market is a staple of the NBA offseason, the Knicks are simply too much of a long shot to land Giannis this summer.