Ray Allen explains a realistic scenario where Giannis ends up with the Knicks: “Lookout Eastern Conference and NBA” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be linked to potential trades even if he has not demanded one from his current home. One team that Antetokounmpo is frequently linked to is the New York Knicks, who were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Indiana Pacers.
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Plenty have weighed in on the idea of Giannis landing in New York, including former Bucks star Ray Allen. Allen believes that if Milwaukee receives an offer too good to pass up, they could be compelled to trade the superstar of their 2021 championship run.
“It’s gonna come down to the best deal that Milwaukee sees necessary,” said Allen. “For him to leave Milwaukee and understanding the void that leaves Milwaukee, they really want to get something for him so it will depend on what that looks like.”
The Knicks will have to part with at least one core player
Antetokounmpo asking for a trade is one thing; preparing a package for him is another. Last season, the Knicks paid five first-round picks, including four unprotected, to acquire Mikal Bridges, who has never been an All-Star. If we use that as a reference, then Giannis should command an entire team of first-round picks.
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“So it will depend on how Milwaukee can set themselves up for their future and who they get back in return,” added Allen. “But look out, Eastern Conference and NBA if Giannis ends up in New York because obviously, it’s a huge market. It’s a great market for him, and with the success that they’ve had recently with New York. But it is going to require them giving up one of the core players that they have right now.”
Last week, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus floated a couple of trade possibilities involving Giannis and the Knicks. Under one scenario, New York surrenders OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. Another one was a straight-up deal for Karl-Anthony Towns. Either way, the Knicks lose one or more of their core players, as Allen mentioned.
Windhorst puts the brakes on Giannis trade talks
However, as of now, no trade market involving Antetokounmpo exists. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Greek Freak has not demanded a trade, and there is no indication that either player or team wants to move in a different direction.
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“Right now, there is no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market, there is no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussions. He has not asked for it. The Bucks are not looking to trade him,” declared Windy on the recent episode of ‘Get Up.’
If we trace the Giannis trade talks, it all goes back to Windhorst’s colleague, Shams Charania, who said last month that Antetokounmpo is, for the first time, open-minded about whether his best fit is in Milwaukee. That statement has snowballed into trade rumors, but the reality is we have not heard Antetokounmpo say out loud that he wants to leave “Brew City.”
So maybe it’s wise to halt these conversations until either he or the Bucks say he is available because doing so could give people, especially Knicks fans, false hope.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.