The early parts of the offseason saw Giannis Antetokounmpo linked with several teams in trade rumors, with the New York Knicks even emerging as favorites to land the Milwaukee Bucks‘ star. Although these rumors died down after Antetokounmpo displayed his commitment to the Bucks franchise, recent reports suggest a resurgence in these trade talks.
With insiders claiming that his time in Milwaukee could be coming to an end, along with the news of Antetokounmpo’s conversations with the Knicks, there appears to be enough precedent to suggest that New York could be the likely landing spot for the forward.
While this could be viewed favorably for the Knicks, since the acquisition of a perennial MVP candidate is always beneficial for a team with title aspirations, the current landscape of the league could create some challenges in facilitating a move. On this note, having a third party facilitate the trade could have merit.
With this in mind, we explore a trade scenario wherein the Golden State Warriors help facilitate the move for the Knicks to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. Here is the proposed trade package:
Proposed Trade Details
New York Knicks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride, 2026 first-round pick (NYK via WAS), 2027 first-round pick (GSW), 2029 first-round pick (GSW)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
Given that such a trade would have massive implications on the rosters of the teams involved, we examine the impact of the deal on each party.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Joins A Big Market
One of the most significant elements of this trade is that, for the first time in his career, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be playing in a big market. Given that he was drafted by the Bucks, the Greek forward spent his entire career building the franchise into a title contender and a perennial playoff team in the modern era. Now, in one of the biggest markets in the sporting world, the forward will be in a completely different environment.
The expectations that come with Antetokounmpo’s addition need to be taken into account as well. One of the more relevant aspects of the forward’s personality is his desire to win and compete for titles. In New York, he would be in the perfect position to do that.
Although the team doesn’t have a rich history of winning NBA titles, the Knicks have always been one of the more competitive teams in the league. When considering the success the franchise has seen with the recent iteration of the roster, with the addition of a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, New York would undoubtedly be considered the favorites to win the championship.
Aside from the brilliance of players such as Jalen Brunson, along with a talented supporting cast, Antetokounmpo’s style blends well with Mike Brown’s up-tempo offensive philosophy. The forward’s athleticism, strength, and playmaking versatility would make him an incredible fit in such a system, providing him with ample opportunities to contribute to winning.
Last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo was among the top players in the league, as he finished third in MVP voting. With an average of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, shooting 60.1% from the field, he firmly established himself as one of the most consistently dominant players in the NBA.
Although the acquisition would require the Knicks to break up their current core, there is enough evidence to suggest that such a move would be worth it. For a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, who can singlehandedly carry teams to victory, New York could benefit from taking such a risk.
The Bucks Kickstart Their Rebuild
This trade idea has a lot of merit for the Bucks. Although parting with Giannis Antetokounmpo would effectively mark the end of an era, this trade would allow them to acquire enough relevant pieces to help them kickstart their rebuild.
With the Warriors getting involved in this trade, the Bucks land Jonathan Kuminga and two valuable first-round picks as part of this deal. When additionally considering that they receive Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride and one more first-round pick (2026 top-8 protected) from the Knicks, Milwaukee comes away with a haul of assets.
Acquiring Kuminga and Bridges could be particularly significant. The Warriors forward was involved in a long and arduous contract negotiation with Golden State, which eventually resulted in him accepting a two-year deal with the team. Considering that he had expressed his intentions to leave to pursue his goals of becoming an All-Star, joining the Bucks in this scenario could be ideal.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving, Milwaukee will need a new franchise cornerstone. Given his physical tools and innate scoring sense, the 22-year-old could be a solid option.
Last season, the forward averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 45.4% shooting and 30.5% from three-point range. Given that he received limited opportunities with Golden State last season, joining a rebuilding team could help him carve out a more significant role for himself, especially if he can cement his position as the team’s primary scoring option.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s departure also has a massive impact on Milwaukee’s defensive performance. To address this, acquiring a capable two-way player such as Mikal Bridges could be significant.
Joining a team like the Bucks in this scenario would be a familiar situation for Bridges, who also played for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2023-24 season. With the Nets, the forward proved himself to be a viable option on both ends of the floor, as he averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game during the 2023-24 season.
His performance with the Knicks last season was also impressive. Given the impact on their performance later in the season, including his postseason heroics, Bridges could be a tremendous asset in helping the Bucks remain competitive even during a rebuild.
While these two additions could already be considered solid, the addition of Miles McBride also has upside. The young guard has recently been mentioned in trade rumors, primarily due to New York’s need to shed salary in order to make key roster additions. But considering his two-way upside and improved perimeter shooting, the Bucks may see a lot of merit in acquiring him.
Last season, McBride played in the capacity of a backup point guard for the Knicks. Although his playmaking production is limited, he is a reliable perimeter threat and point-of-attack defender. For the 2024-25 season, he averaged 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 40.6% shooting overall and 36.9% from three-point range.
Considering all the assets the Bucks could receive in this deal, they could successfully plan a rebuild and return to competitive form in a very short span of time.
The Warriors Make A Run At Winning It All
Although the Golden State Warriors were mentioned as a third party to help facilitate the trade, this deal could benefit them the most in the immediate future. With the acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns, the Warriors effectively add one of the best big men in the NBA to an already formidable core, essentially helping them emerge as title contenders.
As constructed, the Warriors are a team led by veteran experience and a championship pedigree. Although they feature some big names such as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, along with relevant recent signings like Al Horford, Golden State isn’t expected to be in the title picture, primarily due to the depth of competition in the Western Conference.
Karl-Anthony Towns, for all his defensive shortcomings, is a reliable big man. Given his versatile offensive skill set and his role as a contributor to New York’s success last season, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that he could help the Warriors solidify their status as contenders.
Last season, Towns averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, shooting 52.6% from the field and 42.0% from beyond the arc. As a capable floor spacer and rebounder, the 29-year-old would be the perfect fit in the Warriors’ system. Given his versatility on offense, he could easily slot in next to Curry and Butler, potentially forming a highly potent scoring trio.
With this in mind, an acquisition like Towns could prove to be significant, as it completely alters the landscape of the West. With Towns being added to the starting lineup and Horford moving to the bench, the Warriors would boast depth and talent in virtually all positions, transforming them into a legitimate threat.
The challenge with this deal is associated with Towns’ massive $53.1 million incoming cap hit. Given that the Warriors are only sending out Kuminga’s $22.9 million contract along with two first-round picks, Golden State would go over the second tax apron if it acquires the big man.
While this could be a risk, considering their practices in the past and willingness to spend on building championship rosters, the Warriors’ organization could view this deal favorably as a means of making the most of their limited title window.
Should The Knicks Pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The links between the Knicks and Giannis Antetokounmpo are worth taking into consideration, purely because of the impact it would have on the league. But considering the amount of assets the Knicks would have to give up to acquire him, they may not see as much merit in trading for him.
Instead, New York may have another avenue to acquire Antetokounmpo in the near future. With the forward potentially becoming available as a free agent in 2027, the Knicks could look to clear some cap room to sign him in the summer of 2027. However, this would also be dependent on Antetokounmpo’s decision, since he could also choose to exercise his player option to remain in Milwaukee.
In this regard, only the future will accurately tell what Giannis Antetokounmpo’s next move will be.
