Giannis Antetokounmpo might have been joking, but he might have made a prophetic comment while reacting to Luka Doncic being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I want Luka to Lakers. I want Jokic to Knicks. I want all the Europeans to go to the big markets.”
The first thought that must’ve crossed the mind of many is that a foreign superstar is going to carry the mantle of the Los Angeles Lakers for the next decade, something we’ve not seen before in franchise history. But as the NBA becomes more global than ever, it’s easy to market Luka Doncic as one of the faces of the NBA now that he’s in the media-crazy LA market.
Another player who might see his superstardom greatly increase is Nikola Jokic if he joined the Knicks as Giannis suggested. Unlike Doncic, Jokic is a multi-time MVP and NBA Champion, arguably the best player of the 2020s so far. He’s not a media face due to his personal disposition and also because he’s on the Denver Nuggets.
With the questionable return the Mavericks got for Luka, we decided to whip up a sarcastic trade scenario where Jokic lands up on the Knicks for a comparable package with which the Lakers landed Doncic.
Trade Details
New York Knicks Receive: Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets Receive: Karl Anthony-Towns, Miles McBride, 2026 First-Round Pick Swap (NYK), 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (NYK)
Instead of one unprotected first-round pick, the Knicks send two swaps to the Nuggets in this case to make up for the lack of control after they traded most of their assets for Mikal Bridges. They land an All-NBA caliber player in return for Jokic alongside another player who could be a crucial bench piece or occasional starter.
The Knicks Hit The Lottery
If this scenario comes true, it would be equivalent to the Knicks hitting a basketball lottery. Not only is Nikola Jokic the best player in the NBA, he might be the perfect big man for everything the Knicks need. He has a strong defensive core around him already and can greatly improve the quality of offense in New York by being the primary playmaker they lack.
Jokic is averaging 29.5 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.3 assists this season. He’s an easy MVP frontrunner, so I don’t need to explain why he’d be perfect for the Knicks.
His presence not only gives the Knicks a more imposing interior force, but Jokic is a more accurate outside shooter than Towns this season while also being able to lift the playmaking burden off Jalen Brunson, who thrives as a scorer.
If the Knicks get offered this trade like how the Lakers were offered Luka Doncic, they might say yes to anything the Nuggets want as compared to the Lakers still bargaining to reduce the cost of Doncic.
Trying To Justify It For The Nuggets
At least the Mavericks can claim becoming a much-better defense in the short-term for virtually hanging their franchise’s future in the air. I don’t think the Nuggets can find any silver lining in this scenario.
Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 24.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season as the leading rebounder in the NBA. No Nuggets fan envies Towns’ rebounding ability in relation to Jokic’s, and every other offensive margin is almost non-existent when it comes to these two players. Towns has been a marginally better defensive player this season, but that’s also because of Tom Thibodeau’s system.
The only way to justify it is if you think Miles McBride is a long-term Jamal Murray replacement or if those 2026 and 2028 swaps will be extremely valuable. The odds of any of that happening are so small that this trade would have everyone scratching their heads similar to what’s just happened with Doncic and the Lakers.
We’ll Never See A Move As Baffling As Luka To Lakers Again
Trying to do this thought experiment with any star in the NBA is hilarious. Literally no other team would accept the kind of deal the Mavericks did for Luka, even with the defensive versatility of Davis. Similarly, it feels completely asinine to suggest that Jokic should be traded to the Knicks for Karl Towns, two pick swaps, and Miles McBride.
No basketball GM would risk their job in such a fashion outside Nico Harrison, so we likely won’t see Giannis’ dream Nikola Jokic in New York come true. What could come true is Giannis choosing to be the face of a big-market franchise in 2028 free agency after 15 years with the Milwaukee Bucks. But even that possibility won’t compel them to trade him for Jalen Williams, two first-round picks, and Isaiah Joe.
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