This summer, the New York Knicks made a bold push for a championship, acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns in two major trades. As a result, they’ve emerged as one of the biggest threats to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
However, rumors about the Knicks making a move for Giannis Antetokounmpo continue to circulate. The Milwaukee Bucks have struggled to start the season, sitting at 2-7 ahead of their Nov. 10 game against the Celtics.
According to Stefan Bondy of the *New York Post*, the Knicks’ chances of landing Giannis are slim. Over the past year, the team has already traded away much of its valuable assets, including acquiring OG Anunoby.
Bondy explained, “The insurmountable obstacle now for the Knicks is they’ve already unloaded the most valuable assets, minus Jalen Brunson, to acquire Towns, OG Anunoby, and especially Mikal Bridges. As a result, a source stated that the Knicks’ chances of dealing for Antetokounmpo are ‘very unlikely.’ Their offer would get blown away by the competition.”
While Giannis might become available if the Bucks don’t turn things around, it’s unlikely the Knicks will be able to make a serious run at him. Any potential deal for the two-time MVP would likely require the inclusion of either Jalen Brunson or Towns, and with the current roster looking strong, New York may be better off standing pat for now.
Proposed Giannis Trade Would Decimate Knicks’ Depth
Josh Cornelissen proposed a trade that would bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to the New York Knicks, but such a deal would require New York to sacrifice significant depth to make it happen. The proposed trade looks like this:
Knicks receive:
– Giannis Antetokounmpo
– Delon Wright
Bucks receive:
– Karl-Anthony Towns
– Tyler Kolek
– Jericho Sims
– Pacome Dadiet
– 2025 protected first-round pick (from Washington)
– Three second-round picks
Raptors receive:
– Pat Connaughton
– Two second-round picks
Bulls receive:
– MarJon Beauchamp
Towns has gotten off to an impressive start in New York, averaging 24.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 55.6% from three and 52.7% from the field. Additionally, Towns has shown no signs of pressuring the front office for a trade, which makes his inclusion in a deal for Giannis particularly complicated.
Given the Knicks’ current offensive strategy, which revolves around a five-out system, and Towns’ strong performance, trading him for Giannis doesn’t seem likely at this point. Instead, New York is more likely to stay on the sidelines and watch as other teams, potentially in the Western Conference, pursue the two-time MVP.
Knicks’ Mikal Bridges Trade is Raising Eyebrows
New York’s acquisition of Mikal Bridges has already sparked some debate. Tom Thibodeau has used the 28-year-old wing in a similar role to that of Jrue Holiday for the Celtics, relying on him heavily as a defensive anchor and high-minute player. Bridges has been the Knicks’ “iron man” so far, leading the team in total minutes played to begin the season.
However, veteran NBA analyst Bill Simmons has raised concerns about the trade, specifically questioning whether the Knicks overpaid in giving up so many draft picks for Bridges. On a recent episode of *The Bill Simmons Podcast*, he asked, “What was the point of the Bridges trade? For what they gave up for him, for how little they use him. It’s kind of shocking. He’s like a 15-points-a-game guy. He just stands in the corner in crunch time. I thought he would be way more involved with their offense. You think if Giannis (Antetokounmpo) is really going to be available over these next couple of weeks or months, they shot their wad on this Bridges package?”
While Bridges may not be a featured scorer in New York’s offense, his role in the rotation is undeniably important. He’s one of the team’s top defenders, a steady playmaker who can contribute across multiple areas, and he’s knocking down his share of shots. Although the Knicks did pay a high price to acquire him from the Brooklyn Nets, Bridges fills a crucial need for the team.
At the end of the day, New York is a better team with him than without him. While the long-term value of the trade remains to be fully seen, Bridges’ defensive and playmaking contributions cannot be overlooked.
