New York Knicks Not Aggressively Pursuing Trade For Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo
The New York Knicks are not aggressively pursuing a trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Antetokounmpo is ready to leave the Bucks, who are listening to trade offers for the future Hall of Famer.
New York and Milwaukee discussed an Antetokounmpo trade last offseason, but a deal didn’t go down.
“They believed in this team last summer when Giannis was sort of loosely available in those discussions,” Windhorst said. “They didn’t make an aggressive offer at that time. … If they want to win a bidding war for Giannis now, I think it’s going to take a three- or four-team trade, where they take some of their players and go out and get other assets for them. … That is just not happening. They are not showing that aggression to get Giannis right now and I think that’s because they like this team.”
The Knicks are in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, so they are under no pressure to make a blockbuster trade.
New York’s core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby made the conference finals last season. It appears the Knicks’ brass doesn’t want to break the core up for Antetokounmpo.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo is making $54.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The swingman doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t control where the Bucks trade him.
Milwaukee has lost in the first round of the playoffs three years in a row. Antetokounmpo is tired of losing and is ready to start the next chapter of his NBA career.
Multiple teams are pursuing Antetokounmpo even though the forward is expected to miss the next four to six weeks with a right calf injury. Antetokounmpo has appeared in 30 games this season. He’s averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. He holds career averages of 24.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is February 5 at 3 p.m. ET. It will be fascinating to see if Antetokounmpo and the Bucks part ways.
Latest NBA News & Rumors
- NBA Rumors: Golden State Warriors’ Trade Offer For Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Include Draymond Green Instead Of Jimmy Butler
- NBA News: Cleveland Cavaliers Trade De’Andre Hunter To Sacramento Kings
- NBA Rumors: Portland Trail Blazers Have Expressed Interest In Trading For Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo
- NBA News: NBA Suspends Philadelphia 76ers’ Paul George
