Giannis Antetokounmpo is arguably halfway out the door in Milwaukee, which has given rise to all the speculations about his future with the Bucks. Despite Antetokounmpo claiming his intention to stay in Milwaukee on multiple occasions, his future has been in peril, especially considering recent developments.
According to sources, Antetokounmpo considered the Knicks as the only team he was interested in joining if he were to leave the Bucks. The Bucks reportedly quietly discussed the possibility of the trade with the Knicks’ front office, which, according to sources, yielded a conclusion that the Bucks probably did not like.
As per Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Knicks considered Jalen Brunson to be “untouchable” in any potential offer that would bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to the New York-based franchise.
“Team sources have made it clear that Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was, as expected, untouchable in these talks,” Amick said. “In terms of possible players being involved, the common sense lens turns toward Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson from there.”
“But even if the Bucks had interest in a package involving several of those players, the Knicks are known to have concerns about the possible roster imbalance that could result from a deal of this magnitude. That doesn’t mean they don’t have interest — they absolutely do — but we’ve seen plenty of proof these past few years that Antetokounmpo’s impact alone simply isn’t enough.”
We recently discussed what a potential package could look like that would land the Greek superstar in Madison Square Garden, but even then, it seems very unlikely that the Knicks will be able to figure out a viable trade package without involving key players like Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns.
Danny Green’s Opinion On Best Landing Spot For Giannis Antetokounmpo
The three-time NBA champion and former Spurs player, Danny Green, recently appeared on his podcast and gave his take on why he thinks the Greek superstar wants out of Milwaukee and where he should land next. On a recent episode from a few days ago, the three-time NBA champion explained how Giannis Antetokounmpo probably grew increasingly frustrated with the Bucks’ front office after they took multiple major decisions without apparently consulting him.
The Greek superstar has previously claimed that the Bucks traded Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and waived Damian Lillard without his knowledge. This is what Green believed was Antetokounmpo’s “last straw” with the Bucks’ front office.
Subsequently, on the most recent episode, Green further added to his take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and explained why the San Antonio Spurs would be the best place for him to go.
He initially explained how it is a generational once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with a talent like Victor Wembanyama. And then he explained how the Knicks would be further away from championship contention than the Spurs if they decided to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Hence, making the Knicks a risky choice for Antetokounmpo.
“So, for me, it’s an easy answer, bro. The San Antonio Spurs, that’s the answer. The San Antonio Spurs and playing with Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and De’Aaron Fox, who I don’t know if they’ll be able to keep all of them,” Green further added. “But if you want to win, and I know it’s in the West, but you need to be playing with the San Antonio Spurs, that atmosphere.”
“And of course, Giannis likes to keep his money, with less taxes in Texas. I know he likes to be cheap. His family would live better there. Not as much of a spotlight as New York is. I’m saying not as much pressure, but there still is pressure to win regardless. But it’s a different type of vibe, different type of city, and then he’ll be a god in San Antonio.”
Hence, if not the Knicks, a world of opportunity awaits Antetokounmpo if he decides to request a trade from the Bucks. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists for the Bucks last season, still playing at an All-NBA caliber level in the race for the MVP. Therefore, any team getting him is a victory for them. But the Bucks need to assess whether the benefit of gaining Giannis Antetokounmpo is sufficiently more than the cost of giving up a younger superstar like Jalen Brunson. They seem to think it is not, but anything can happen.
