Last summer, the New York Knicks engaged the Milwaukee Bucks in trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. No deal came together at the time, but as an injured Antetokounmpo continues to weigh his future in Milwaukee, contenders reportedly continue to circle and explore the possibility of acquiring the two-time NBA MVP.
ESPN's salary cap expert Bobby Marks wrote Monday about 10 franchises that would have the most to offer the Bucks if Antetokounmpo asks out of Milwaukee before the Feb. 5 trade deadline or during the offseason. The Knicks make the cut again -- but the franchise, squarely in a contention window, would have to transform their roster midseason to pull off a trade of this magnitude.
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Marks grades the Knicks' difficulty in acquiring Antetokounmpo as an eight out of 10. New York is "light on draft assets" and has significant financial limitations as a team in the second apron -- meaning the Knicks are hard-capped.
"Because it is over the first apron, New York is not allowed to take on more salary than it sends out in a trade," Marks writes. "That would leave the front office with the option of swapping Karl-Anthony Towns straight up or packaging a combination of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges."
Parting with a package that includes Hart would be painful for the Knicks and their fans. The 30-year-old is one of New York's most valuable players, and a real fan favorite; he is an efficient shooter and arguably the NBA's top rebounding guard. He is also on an incredibly team-friendly contract that runs through next season and contains a team option for the 2027/28 season.
If the Knicks want to take a big swing, they could make an Antetokounmpo trade work. But the cost would be tremendous.
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