Assuming the New York Knicks do not win the NBA Championship this spring, teams like them and the Golden State Warriors are expected to make a summer trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, popular NBA analyst Bill Simmons explained this week why both teams need to go in a different direction.
Although they are still behind the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings, the NY Knicks still have high hopes of reaching the NBA Finals in the spring. However, the Pistons have given them a lot of trouble during the season, and the Celtics now have top star Jayson Tatum back, they cannot score goals.
If they don't, he is expected to be a top contender in the summer trade market for Antetokounmpo. Similarly for warriors also. A team that feels like they're a major chunk away from getting Stephen Curry another championship before he ultimately walks away from the game over the next few seasons. Furthermore, both are considered to be the preferred spots for the two-time NBA MVP.
However, is giving up a large amount of long-term asset the right thing for any team planning on moving Antetokounmpo? Bill Simmons isn't so sure, and during a new edition of his The Ringer podcast, the popular NBA expert laid out some interesting reasons why the 10-time All-Star isn't worth a king's ransom.
Antetokounmpo trade not worth the risk to NY Knicks, Warriors?
First of all, he has played in the league for 13 years, a total of 895 games, 89 playoff games, more than 29,000 minutes, and more than 3,000 playoff minutes. He also mentioned various injuries he sustained during that period, including a hyperextended knee, a bad wrist sprain and a few groin strains. That's a ton of wear and tear that is hurting again and again.
Yet, the worrying details did not end there. He asked his co-host how many players have averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for a season in years 14 and up? The answer was only one player. Moses Malone's 20 and 12 seasons in 1988 and '89.
Then he asked how many players age 32 or older averaged 24 points and 10 boards? Only four in NBA history have done so. They're Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone and Elgin Baylor, and that hasn't happened in 28 years.
Simmons makes a pretty strong case for why a trade for Antetokounmpo would be a big risk for the NY Knicks or Warriors. Because there is clear evidence that they won't get the players they need, and that could set those franchises back a decade.
The NY Knicks faced an injury-plagued star disaster when they signed Amare Stoudemire in 2010. Giving up all of your assets and then giving a future Hall of Famer a new max contract seems like a huge risk. As far as the Warriors are concerned, the goal of trading for Antetokounmpo would be to acquire a new superstar after Curry. However, based on clear evidence, they could trade and re-sign a player who may never stay healthy.
