Star Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Bucks, and one Eastern Conference team inquired about him last summer.
ESPN's Jamal Collier reported Wednesday that the New York Knicks discussed trading for Giannis with the Bucks last offseason.
"For a brief window this past summer, the Bucks and the New York Knicks engaged in discussions about a potential Antetokounmpo trade," Collier said.
Milwaukee remained confident it would keep Antetokounmpo and build a contending team around him. But ESPN's Shams Charania said the Bucks are open to moving the forward, who led the franchise to an NBA Championship in 2021.
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Collier believes the Knicks never made a serious offer for Giannis last offseason.
"New York never believed Milwaukee seriously entertained the idea of moving Antetokounmpo then, however, and those in Milwaukee believe New York never made a strong enough offer to continue discussing the trade," he said.
The Knicks were once believed to be Giannis' preferred landing spot in a trade. But he appears to be open to other landing spots, potentially including the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors.
"Despite locking in on New York a few months ago, Antetokounmpo has been much more open about his future going forward and is not expected to focus on one destination," Collier said.
Antetokounmpo is set to miss the next four weeks with a right calf strain, complicating his trade status before the Feb. 5 deadline. Any team that acquires him would need assurance that he'll be available for the playoffs.