The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors continue to swirl with the start of the 2025-26 NBA season looming.

A new report has come out stating that Giannis Antetokounmpo was interested in a potential move to the New York Knicks this summer.

The Milwaukee Bucks superstar reportedly explored the possibility of playing for a different team and actually had a preferred destination in mind in the Knicks.

Antetokounmpo has two years left on his contract and he will not be eligible for an extension with the Bucks until next summer. That is when he will be one year away from free agency.

Stephen A. Smith says he would give up ‘everybody but Jalen Brunson’ to get Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Antetokounmpo trade rumors are expected to continue going into this season.

The Bucks aren’t expected to be a legitimate threat for the title this season.

If the Bucks struggle and Antetokounmpo grows tired of the situation, he could demand a trade to a contending team like the Knicks.

Longtime Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith revealed who he would give up in a potential trade for Antetokounmpo.

“The New York Knicks, if you can get that dude to the garden. Everybody but Jalen Brunson I’m giving up.

“I’m giving up every damn body. The Knicks obviously did not feel that way. Knicks obviously didn’t feel that way.

“Giannis is a monster man. Getting somebody of that caliber, to me nobody outside of Jalen Brunson would have been safe for me personally, because that’s how I feel about Giannis. He’s just that fantastic.”

Stephen A. Smith predicts the New York Knicks making the 2025 NBA Finals ‘by default’

Even without Antetokounmpo, the Knicks are still considered one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference this season.

The Knicks added some nice depth to their roster over the summer and they have a team that is deep enough to make a championship run.

Smith has the Knicks making the NBA Finals this season, even if they don’t make a blockbuster trade for The Greek Freak.

“I got them [Knicks] going to the Finals, by default,” Smith said.

If the Knicks avoid any major injury, they could finally break their championship drought next year.