Without calling the man out directly, the New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield ripped Knicks president Leon Rose for not putting the team in a position to cash in the chips to land Giannis Antetokounmpo this season.
Antetokounmpo strained his calf during the Milwaukee Bucks’ 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night and is expected to miss the rest of December with an injury. He could return to the team in early January.
Winfield believes the Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby trades took the Knicks out of a position to land the “Greek Freak” just as he’s seriously considering an exit from the Cream City.
“If Giannis formally asks out, every team with even a sliver of a case will get involved. And New York, after years of asset-hoarding, enters the most important superstar window in its modern era with a largely empty wallet,” Winfield wrote.
“The Knicks already dealt five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges. They traded Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first for Karl-Anthony Towns. They moved R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby — and then had to max him at five years, $212 million.
“Those choices leave them structurally handicapped at the very moment they need the most flexibility.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the one that got away from the Knicks
Antetokounmpo is a transformational player in every sense. He hasn’t experienced the same success without Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, but he’s kept the Bucks relevant in every era since being drafted in 2013.
Next to a dynamic floor general like Jalen Brunson, with a rim protector/lob threat like Mitchell Robinson, and with other defence-first players like Josh Hart and whoever between Bridges, Towns, and Anunoby sticks around, he may have his highest ceiling since 2021.
New York reporters don’t sound too bullish on it happening, though, even if Towns is one of the most sensible return pieces for Milwaukee if the Bucks don’t want to begin a rebuild.
The Knicks will have to hope this core reaches its full potential. NYK fandom is predicated on always believing this type of move is possible. Knowing it wasn’t because of being overaggressive to land a good, but not great, roster is another tough pill to swallow for a fanbase that never gets a dose of anything else.