Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future with the Milwaukee Bucks will be the biggest story of the 2026-27 NBA offseason. After heavy rumors at the NBA trade deadline, the Bucks retained Antetokounmpo, but the relationship did not improve. Instead, the Bucks forward's future became even more clear.
Milwaukee wants a solution on Antetokounmpo by the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins in just a month. Antetokounmpo will be the biggest fish on the trade market during the 2026 NBA offseason, and multiple organizations are expected to be in the mix.
This seems like a real possibility, so what will it really take for Antetokounmpo to get to New York? This is what needs to happen for the New York Knicks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo should request a trade with New York as a destination
It all starts with Antetokounmpo. If the Knicks want to pull off one of their biggest trades in franchise history, the 31-year-old forward will have to request a trade from Milwaukee. Again, Antetokounmpo would have to include New York as one of his favorite destinations.
Luckily for the Knicks, this shouldn't be a problem. Antetokounmpo has his sights set on New York and would love to play in the Big Apple. Therefore, if Antetokounmpo requests a trade, the Knicks will inevitably be in contention. It just depends on what Antetokounmpo wants to do moving forward.
Does Antetokounmpo want to stay in Milwaukee and build his legacy with one team? If the Bucks are committed to building a great team around Antetokounmpo, this could take his mind off a trade. Still, the damage from the 2025-26 NBA season may be too much to overcome.
In that case, the Knicks would be one of the top landing spots for Antetokounmpo in a potential trade. However, does New York need a reason to trade for Antetokounmpo this summer?
The New York Knicks need a reason to pursue Antetokounmpo this summer
The Knicks are scheduled to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. New York has made it to the conference finals for the second consecutive NBA season, as Jalen Brunson continues to take the organization to new levels. However, the trade may become more difficult for Antetokounmpo in the coming weeks.
Will a second consecutive conference finals appearance derail the Antetokounmpo deal? How about an appearance in the NBA Finals? If the Knicks defeat the Cavaliers and make the 2026 NBA Finals, it could lead the team away from a drastic move for the 31-year-old star.
To stay under the second apron, the Knicks will likely have to trade a combination of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. Since New York doesn't have many first-round picks to offer Milwaukee, it will almost certainly have to trade half of its starting lineup. This may not be attractive for a team that is so close to the championship.
After all, Antetokounmpo has dealt with injuries the last few seasons, and an unfortunate health issue could derail the Knicks. In order for New York to trade for Antetokounmpo, it needs a reason to pursue him this summer. More likely, it would require the Knicks to be eliminated by the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Antetokounmpo is interested in joining the Knicks, but the organization may not be in the right position to swing a trade this offseason.
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