The New York Knicks have been eying the statuses of several household NBA names over the years and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is at the top of the list, according to The Athletic.
The Knicks and Bucks discussed an Antetokounmpo trade this offseason.
New York made the conference finals last season for the first time since 2000, while Milwaukee lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Antetokounmpo guided the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. Since then, Milwaukee has won only one playoff series.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. The Greek Freak has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks with the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo finished third in MVP voting last season. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 60.1% from the field and made the All-NBA First Team.
The Bucks will only trade Antetokounmpo if he requests a trade. Antetokounmpo will make $54.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.
Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst was very busy this offseason. He waived and stretched Damian Lillard, signed Myles Turner, Gary Harris, Amir Coffey, Cole Anthony and Thanasis Antetokounmpo and re-signed Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Jericho Sims.
“I really believe in this team,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said at media day. “I love that we’re younger. … We have energy. I think this is a team full of dogs, guys that know their role and (are) gonna try to do their best to figure into their role and try to help this team be great, so I’m excited.
“I always try to take it day by day. I deal with what I have in front of me. Right now, Milwaukee, I think it’s a great team. It’s a sleeper. A lot of people might not take us serious, but I think we’re a very, very dangerous team.”
