One NBA writer is proposing that the New York Knicks trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster proposal. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Knicks and Bucks:
The Deal: New York Knicks trade RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, a 2024 first-round pick (via Washington), a 2025 first-round pick (via Milwaukee), a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap to Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pat Connaughton
“What if the Milwaukee Bucks decide to preempt the potential Giannis Antetokounmpo departure and make him available themselves? If he ever does hit the market, the New York Knicks have potential trade packages that could go toe to toe with just about anyone outside of the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Bailey wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “This one sends three interesting prospects in RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes; flexibility from Evan Fournier’s contract (which has a team option for 2024-25); and a whole heap of future draft picks, including one that used to belong to Milwaukee and would have a lot more value with Giannis gone.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks Updates
“In the wake of this deal, the Knicks would be left with a core of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and Giannis. They could use a little more shooting, but that’s at least the start of a title contender.”
Antetokounmpo recently admitted that he would leave the Bucks if there’s a better situation to win an NBA championship. Milwaukee won the 2021 title over the Phoenix Suns but lost in the second round of the 2022 playoffs to the Boston Celtics and fell to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to spend his entire NBA career with the Bucks and not win another championship. The future Hall of Famer told NBA reporter Tania Ganguli of The New York Times that he will not sign an extension this year. The two-time MVP is eligible for a contract extension right now.
“The real question’s not going to be this year — numbers-wise it doesn’t make sense,” Antetokounmpo said. “But next year, next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don’t know.”
Antetokounmpo added: “I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”
The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a five-year, $228.2 million designated maximum contract extension in December 2020. The NBA icon will make $45.6 million next season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks Updates
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 22.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He has won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award, two regular-season MVPs, one Finals MVP and one Defensive Player of the Year Award with the Bucks.
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