The New York Knicks are in an unfortunate situation right now. Just a few years ago, the state of the franchise was celebrated across Broadway after a playoff appearance, but with their sustained success, they are now only judged by their playoff performance.
One analyst doesn’t see that turning out too well for them this season. That could force the organization to make a drastic move, and there is one obvious one staring them down, even if it costs them Karl-Anthony Towns.
New York Knicks Finally Land Their Superstar In Potential Trade
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga has gone on for far too long. Since the late 2010s, rumors have circulated about the man they call the “Greek Freak” potentially finding a new home in the NBA.
However, time and again, the two-time MVP stood pat with the Milwaukee Bucks. To their credit, the organization also tried its best to surround him with the right pieces, from Khris Middleton to Eric Bledsoe, Jrue Holiday, and even Damian Lillard.
However, after failing to make it out of the first round over the last four seasons, including outright missing the postseason this year, change seems imminent. Moving on from Doc Rivers was the tip of the iceberg, and the next step could be the Antetokounmpo trade.
As such, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report believes the Knicks could once again be in play for Antetokounmpo. It was also a rumored destination of interest for the former NBA champion near the trade deadline, and it could come to fruition if New York fails in the playoffs once again.
Bailey’s mock trade:
Milwaukee Bucks Get:Â Karl-Anthony Towns, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2030, and 2032, and three second-round picks
New York Knicks Get:Â Giannis Antetokounmpo
The hope and expectation for the team is to make it to the NBA Finals, if not win the championship outright. If they can’t get it done, then a trade might be in the works. Given their draft situation, though, it would be a hard bargain for Milwaukee, unless they include Towns in the deal.
Add in first-round swaps as well as three second-rounders, and the possibility of an enticing package is there, even if the Knicks would be losing a key ingredient to what has made them so dominant in recent times.
“Losing Karl-Anthony Towns’ shooting is no small thing,” Bailey wrote. “That’s a big part of keeping the paint clear for Jalen Brunson’s slashing, but there’s no question this is a raw talent upgrade, even with the age and health questions that come with Giannis.”
And, there is some upside for Milwaukee as well. “For the Bucks, this would likely just be the start of their dealings. KAT doesn’t make a ton of sense on a rebuilding team, but he would still have value to some other team. Milwaukee flipping him in a subsequent trade would add to the return for Giannis.”
Add in the potential value those later draft picks could have after both the Knicks’ superstars are past their prime, and it could be a solid exchange for the Bucks in the long haul. Ultimately, though, a lot of the conversations surrounding New York will depend on their postseason results.
So far, Towns has been a net positive for the franchise, providing Brunson with a second scorer, averaging over 20 points per game. And his shooting has given them a unique outlook, allowing them to deploy two big lineups without compromising spacing.
Trading for Antetokounmpo would require a major change in how the offense currently flows. But the upside with a proven playoff performer and an NBA champion to boot could be the difference that the Knicks need to overcome that hurdle.
