Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t thrilled with the New York Knicks right now-and it’s not hard to see why. According to league sources, the Knicks explored a blockbuster move last offseason that would have sent Towns to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The trade never materialized, but the fallout still lingers. Towns reportedly took issue with being dangled in talks, and the tension hasn’t exactly cooled.
This all traces back to a pivotal offseason moment when Antetokounmpo, a perennial MVP candidate and future Hall of Famer, made it clear he was open to a change of scenery. He had his eyes set on a few destinations: the Miami Heat, the Knicks, and the Toronto Raptors.
The Knicks, sensing a rare opportunity to land a generational talent, engaged the Bucks in discussions. But when the talks stalled, they were left not only without Giannis-but with a disgruntled star of their own.
That’s the kind of double whammy that front offices dread. You shoot your shot at a superstar, miss, and in the process, damage your relationship with one of your core players.
Towns, a multi-time All-Star and one of the league’s most skilled big men, didn’t appreciate being treated as trade bait. And according to team insiders, that tension still hangs over the organization.
Meanwhile, Giannis remains in play. Though he’s currently sidelined with a right calf injury expected to keep him out for four to six weeks, interest in him hasn’t cooled.
The Heat, Knicks, and Raptors are all actively pursuing the 6-foot-11 force of nature, despite the injury and his massive salary-$54.1 million this season, with a $62.8 million player option looming in 2027-28. And with no no-trade clause in his contract, the Bucks have full control over where he ends up.
They’re in no rush either, waiting patiently for the right offer to surface.
The Knicks, still very much in the hunt, have been exploring creative ways to land Giannis. One scenario being floated involves acquiring Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Holiday, of course, has history with Giannis-they won a title together in Milwaukee and remain close friends. That kind of reunion could be a draw for Antetokounmpo.
To make it happen, the Knicks could potentially send Mikal Bridges to Portland to bring in Holiday, while shipping Towns to Milwaukee as the centerpiece of a deal for Giannis. The Bucks, in turn, could flip Towns for additional draft capital, fueling a potential retool or rebuild. It’s a complex, multi-team puzzle-but not out of the realm of possibility.
Toronto, meanwhile, is going all-in. The Raptors are reportedly willing to part with anyone on the roster not named Brandon Ingram or Scottie Barnes in order to make a deal for Giannis. That’s a bold stance, but it shows just how aggressive they’re willing to be to land a top-five player in the league.
And then there’s Miami. Antetokounmpo and Heat star Bam Adebayo share the same agent, Alex Saratsis, and have reportedly discussed teaming up in South Beach. That kind of star alignment-literally and figuratively-could make the Heat a serious dark horse in this sweepstakes.
Despite the Bucks’ middling 15-15 record with Giannis in the lineup this season, his individual numbers are still elite: 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on a blistering 64.5% shooting from the field. Even his free-throw percentage is trending up at 65.8%, a notable improvement for a player who’s long been criticized at the line.
With the trade deadline looming on February 5 at 3 p.m. ET, the clock is ticking.
Whether the Bucks decide to finally move Giannis-or hold out for a better deal down the line-remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: the ripple effects of last summer’s near-trade are still being felt, and the next few days could reshape the NBA landscape in a big way.