The Giannis Antetokounmpo saga in Milwaukee took another turn on Wednesday, when ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent requested a conversation with ownership about his future with the team.
Antetokounmpo had previously considered requesting a trade over the summer, but ended up sticking it out for the start of the season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The New York Knicks were the only team the 2021 Finals MVP was interested in, according to Charania, and with trade talks expected to start heating up again, ESPN proposed a trade package that could land Antetokounmpo in New York.
Knicks trade idea lands Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jericho Sims
New York Knicks receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round swap, 2030 first-round swap, 2032 first-round swap
In what would be a league-shaking trade, the Knicks would ship out All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, young ascending players and four potential first-round picks for the two-time league MVP.
"Certainly, a New York offer would include significant talent. This construction uses Towns, an All-NBA third-team pick a year ago, as matching salary. Alternate packages would likely be built around OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. If for some reason Milwaukee wants to build the best team possible without Antetokounmpo, the Knicks can help it get there," wrote Kevin Pelton.
"More realistically, the Bucks would need to find a taker for Towns, who would supply additional draft picks."
While parting with Towns would be a tough pill to swallow for Knicks fans, as he was a key contributor in New York's first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000, the prospect of landing a player of Antetokounmpo's caliber would be too difficult to pass up.
The superstar duo of Jalen Brunson and Antetokounmpo could put the Knicks over the top in their quest for an NBA championship, and the trade doesn't gut New York's depth enough to risk that chase for a ring.
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