Knicks Eye Giannis, But Timing Could Be Their Biggest Opponent
There’s no denying it - Giannis Antetokounmpo could change the entire trajectory of the New York Knicks franchise. But for now, the biggest obstacle standing between the Knicks and a blockbuster deal for the two-time MVP isn’t Milwaukee. It’s the calendar.
Right now, the Knicks simply don’t have the trade assets to get in the room with the Bucks. According to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Knicks are currently unable to offer any first-round picks in a potential trade.
That’s a non-starter in a league where draft capital is currency. By the summer, though, New York will be able to put two first-rounders on the table - still not a king’s ransom, but enough to at least start a conversation.
Pair those picks with Karl-Anthony Towns, Miles McBride, and maybe one more asset, and you’ve got a package that’s at least competitive. Not dominant, not overwhelming - but competitive. And that’s assuming Giannis doesn’t get moved before the trade deadline, which is now just days away.
If another team - say, Cleveland - decides to go all-in with a monster offer, the Knicks could be left watching from the sidelines. That’s the danger of waiting.
And make no mistake, the Cavaliers are a real threat here. They’ve got the young talent, the picks, and the motivation to make a splash.
If you're a Knicks fan, and you're not already side-eyeing Cleveland, you might want to start.
The Waiting Game
For the Knicks, this is a classic case of bad timing. They’re in the middle of a promising season, riding some recent wins and building chemistry. But they’re also stuck in a holding pattern when it comes to making the kind of franchise-altering move that could vault them into true contender status.
The Bucks, meanwhile, are staring down a very different kind of season. With Giannis sidelined for the foreseeable future due to injury, Milwaukee’s immediate outlook is bleak.
They’re not contending this year, and everyone knows it - including the front office. So the question becomes: how motivated are the Bucks to move quickly?
If they’re willing to wait until the offseason, when more teams (including Miami) can offer stronger trade packages, they might get a better return.
That scenario could actually play in the Knicks’ favor. If Milwaukee decides to hold off and reassess in the summer, New York will be in a much better position to make a serious run at Giannis. They’ll have more picks to offer, more clarity on their own roster, and possibly a deeper playoff run under their belt to sweeten the pitch.
High Stakes, Low Leverage
It’s a tough spot for the Knicks. On one hand, they’re not in a position to make a move right now.
On the other, the window to land a superstar like Giannis doesn’t stay open for long. The Knicks have long been linked to the Greek Freak, and there’s been buzz in the past that he’s had interest in donning the blue and orange.
But interest alone doesn’t make a deal happen - assets do.
And right now, the Knicks are short on those.
Still, this might not be the worst outcome. Rushing into a trade with limited leverage rarely ends well.
The Knicks are playing good basketball, and the Eastern Conference is wide open. There’s a chance - a real one - that this group could make some noise in the playoffs without mortgaging the future.
Then, come summer, they could be in a prime position to strike. If Giannis is still on the market - and if Milwaukee is ready to hit reset - the Knicks could finally have the ammo they need to make a legitimate offer.
Bottom Line
Giannis may be the ultimate prize, but the Knicks are playing a long game - and right now, they’re stuck waiting for the clock to tick down. Whether that patience pays off depends on a lot of moving parts: Milwaukee’s urgency, other teams’ aggressiveness, and how the rest of this season unfolds.
But one thing’s clear: if Giannis is still available this summer, the Knicks might finally be ready to make their move.