New York Knicks and Giannis Antetokounmpo: Latest Updates Before NBA Trade Deadline

NBA Rumors: The New York Knicks have been linked to a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo since last August, but as the trade deadline approaches, there are no clear signs that the franchise is acting urgently to finalize the deal.

The main difficulty for New York is the lack of future first-round draft picks. This deficiency would force the team to move significant pieces like Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, or Mikal Bridges in order to acquire draft picks or young players that meet the Milwaukee Bucks' requirements. Currently, there are no indications that Leon Rose's office is making such moves in the market.

Brian Windhorst explained this situation on ESPN's Get Up program. According to the journalist, the Knicks have faith in the current group, a judgment that may prove right or wrong, but which already influenced their stance last summer when Antetokounmpo's name was informally on the table. At that time, New York did not present an aggressive offer to advance the discussions.

Windhorst added that, to win a hypothetical bid now, the Knicks would need a complex trade involving three or four teams, using several of their players to generate assets and then come back to Milwaukee with a very strong proposal. As of today, that scenario is not unfolding. The lack of aggressiveness on this front is explained, according to Windhorst himself, by the franchise's belief in its roster and the perception that the Eastern Conference is not an insurmountable obstacle, despite the general limitations of its constituent teams.

The Knicks Situation

The sports context also plays a role. The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season, although they later parted ways with Tom Thibodeau and opted for Mike Brown as the new coach. In the current season, they have managed the team's depth better, but the ultimate success will be measured by whether the team can make the leap to the NBA Finals.