Shams: Knicks the Only Team Giannis Desires to Play For Outside of Milwaukee; Both Teams Discussed Potential Trade

[Castle Black]

To reiterate, I hate when small market teams lose their franchise players, so I really hope Giannis retires a Buck. That said, based on their current roster construction, I wouldn't be surprised if he wants out by the end of the season.

If that ends up being the case, you have to think there are multiple teams who can offer better trade packages than what the Knicks can. If I'm Bucks brass, I'd much rather have loads of draft capital in return for Giannis so start a rebuild over a couple of 30 year-olds in KAT and OG Anunoby — two guys who are very solid players, but who also basically guarantee that you aren't in contention for an NBA Championship or even close really — or even Bridges, who is a very good role player but not someone who moves the needle if he's one of your two best players.

At the same time, Giannis obviously isn't going to re-sign with a bad team or somewhere he doesn't want to be, so that may not be a realistic route. There simply aren't many teams ywho can give the Bucks fair value in return if Giannis isn't willing to re-sign with them.

Time will tell. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[DaGawd]

To reiterate, I hate when small market teams lose their franchise players, so I really hope Giannis retires a Buck. That said, based on their current roster construction, I wouldn't be surprised if he wants out by the end of the season.

If that ends up being the case, you have to think there are multiple teams who can offer better trade packages than what the Knicks can. If I'm Bucks brass, I'd much rather have loads of draft capital in return for Giannis so start a rebuild over a couple of 30 year-olds in KAT and OG Anunoby — two guys who are very solid players, but who also basically guarantee that you aren't in contention for an NBA Championship or even close really — or even Bridges, who is a very good role player but not someone who moves the needle if he's one of your two best players.

At the same time, Giannis obviously isn't going to re-sign with a bad team or somewhere he doesn't want to be, so that may not be a realistic route. There simply aren't many teams ywho can give the Bucks fair value in return if Giannis isn't willing to re-sign with them.

Time will tell. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

all valid points but we’ve seen countless times now especially in today’s nba where if a star wants a certain destination they’re more than likely to get it if they stand firm on it enough, even with said destination not having the best possible package to offer

[SK21209]

To reiterate, I hate when small market teams lose their franchise players, so I really hope Giannis retires a Buck. That said, based on their current roster construction, I wouldn't be surprised if he wants out by the end of the season.

If that ends up being the case, you have to think there are multiple teams who can offer better trade packages than what the Knicks can. If I'm Bucks brass, I'd much rather have loads of draft capital in return for Giannis so start a rebuild over a couple of 30 year-olds in KAT and OG Anunoby — two guys who are very solid players, but who also basically guarantee that you aren't in contention for an NBA Championship or even close really — or even Bridges, who is a very good role player but not someone who moves the needle if he's one of your two best players.

At the same time, Giannis obviously isn't going to re-sign with a bad team or somewhere he doesn't want to be, so that may not be a realistic route. There simply aren't many teams ywho can give the Bucks fair value in return if Giannis isn't willing to re-sign with them.

Time will tell. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

all valid points but we’ve seen countless times now especially in today’s nba where if a star wants a certain destination they’re more than likely to get it if they stand firm on it enough, even with said destination not having the best possible package to offer

Yeah I mean, I feel like we know the playbook.

Giannis is eligible for an extension on 10/1/2026. If he signs it, that's that. If he doesn't sign it on 10/1/2026 or signals beforehand he's not going to sign it, the Bucks go into trade mode. Giannis gives his list of teams that he'd sign an extension with. Teams not on the list aren't going to trade the better packages for him. So it turns into who has the most to offer out of short list of preferred teams. In a Knicks trade, the Bucks obviously re-route whatever combination of KAT/Anunoby/Bridges they get for other assets. Same thing the Blazers did with Holiday when they traded Dame. There would be no shortage of good teams that want Anunoby or Bridges in particular.

You don't get to hang on to your superstar as long as possible and also get the massive haul when he moves on. It's one or the other. The Bucks have already lost the opportunity to get the massive haul when they didn't trade him this summer or even last summer when he had more years left under contract. Which is fine, I'm all for teams holding onto their superstars and trying to compete even if it's in vain.

[mademan]

To reiterate, I hate when small market teams lose their franchise players, so I really hope Giannis retires a Buck. That said, based on their current roster construction, I wouldn't be surprised if he wants out by the end of the season.

If that ends up being the case, you have to think there are multiple teams who can offer better trade packages than what the Knicks can. If I'm Bucks brass, I'd much rather have loads of draft capital in return for Giannis so start a rebuild over a couple of 30 year-olds in KAT and OG Anunoby — two guys who are very solid players, but who also basically guarantee that you aren't in contention for an NBA Championship or even close really — or even Bridges, who is a very good role player but not someone who moves the needle if he's one of your two best players.

At the same time, Giannis obviously isn't going to re-sign with a bad team or somewhere he doesn't want to be, so that may not be a realistic route. There simply aren't many teams ywho can give the Bucks fair value in return if Giannis isn't willing to re-sign with them.

Time will tell. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

all valid points but we’ve seen countless times now especially in today’s nba where if a star wants a certain destination they’re more than likely to get it if they stand firm on it enough, even with said destination not having the best possible package to offer

That true though? Last time i saw that happen was with AD, and the Lakers probably had the best offer (or at least a competitive one). Knicks getting him with a significantly worse offer- which any offer the Knicks can make will be - is hard to see

[reload141]

This isn’t a shot at most Knicks fans.

But if there’s a trade for Giannis you give whatever you can and don’t think twice about it.

This is Giannis we are talking about.

[Myth]

And thankfully that didn't happen. I'm enjoying the parity the league has right now.

This is how I typically view it, but as a Blazers fan, I’m wanting those Bucks picks to be attached to a non-Giannis team.

[RHODEY]

To reiterate, I hate when small market teams lose their franchise players, so I really hope Giannis retires a Buck. That said, based on their current roster construction, I wouldn't be surprised if he wants out by the end of the season.

If that ends up being the case, you have to think there are multiple teams who can offer better trade packages than what the Knicks can. If I'm Bucks brass, I'd much rather have loads of draft capital in return for Giannis so start a rebuild over a couple of 30 year-olds in KAT and OG Anunoby — two guys who are very solid players, but who also basically guarantee that you aren't in contention for an NBA Championship or even close really — or even Bridges, who is a very good role player but not someone who moves the needle if he's one of your two best players.

At the same time, Giannis obviously isn't going to re-sign with a bad team or somewhere he doesn't want to be, so that may not be a realistic route. There simply aren't many teams ywho can give the Bucks fair value in return if Giannis isn't willing to re-sign with them.

Time will tell. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

all valid points but we’ve seen countless times now especially in today’s nba where if a star wants a certain destination they’re more than likely to get it if they stand firm on it enough, even with said destination not having the best possible package to offer

Yeah I mean, I feel like we know the playbook.

Giannis is eligible for an extension on 10/1/2026. If he signs it, that's that. If he doesn't sign it on 10/1/2026 or signals beforehand he's not going to sign it, the Bucks go into trade mode. Giannis gives his list of teams that he'd sign an extension with. Teams not on the list aren't going to trade the better packages for him. So it turns into who has the most to offer out of short list of preferred teams. In a Knicks trade, the Bucks obviously re-route whatever combination of KAT/Anunoby/Bridges they get for other assets. Same thing the Blazers did with Holiday when they traded Dame. There would be no shortage of good teams that want Anunoby or Bridges in particular.

You don't get to hang on to your superstar as long as possible and also get the massive haul when he moves on. It's one or the other. The Bucks have already lost the opportunity to get the massive haul when they didn't trade him this summer or even last summer when he had more years left under contract. Which is fine, I'm all for teams holding onto their superstars and trying to compete even if it's in vain.

Leon Rose /Knicks wont trade 2 starters if one is Kat and the other is not Josh Hart. None of this KAT and OG or KAT and Mikal....They lose too much spacing , shooting and depth and become a lot worse overall. I said it before you get Giannis to PAIR him with KAT for a devastating inside outside duo.

Also Giannis is great and all but he cant shoot and he's on the wrong side of 30 with a game predicated on athleticism. He may not age well.

[Wolfgang630]

This will be a failure of a season if the Knicks don’t make it to the finals. They have clear lane to the finals with Indiana and Boston going to be not good enough. Cleveland will be a challenge. Detroit is better, but still you have the talent and best chance to make it to the finals

[RHODEY]

This isn’t a shot at most Knicks fans.

But if there’s a trade for Giannis you give whatever you can and don’t think twice about it.

This is Giannis we are talking about.

Dont agree, you do what make your team better.

[dballislife]

bucks would want a rebuild if they trade the freak, but they have no picks of their own...any trade starts with 5 1st rounders, and they would want young good players 25 and under...the knicks have none of it, so it needs to be this complex multi team trade

[reload141]

This isn’t a shot at most Knicks fans.

But if there’s a trade for Giannis you give whatever you can and don’t think twice about it.

This is Giannis we are talking about.

Dont agree, you do what make your team better.

Correct, so a Brunson and Giannis pairing is making your team better.

[TheAlchemist]

If i'm the Bucks i'm asking for Brunson + OG or Hart or Bridges.

If I'm NYK, i'm really, sitting and thinking about this one.

The problem with Giannis is he had no supporting cast. Ideally you'd want to pair Brunson with Giannis and obviously have that BIG + Guard combo that wins many championships. But the Knicks don't got the assets. Bucks aren't taking KAT + OG/Hart for Giannis. That makes no sense for them as they can just get on a call with the Spurs or OKC and get young talent up the Wazoo.

So then it comes down to gettin Giannis for Brunson + a guard/forward. Knicks would end up with something like a KAT-Giannis-Bridges-Hart lineup, but with a gaping hole at the 1 spot.

Bucks would have something like a Turner - Bobby Portis - OG - Porter jr - Brunson.

Truthfully that's a fair trade. If New York didn't go HAM and empty the clip on Bridges and Kat, they'd be in a position to get Giannis with Brunson. To me, Depth is the biggest factor now in the NBA, so this trade works out if New York is gung ho for Giannis. But at the expense of Brunson, which feels not right.

They can ask for it, doesn’t mean they’d get it. Brunson would never go in a deal for Giannis. It’d be KAT in the deal.

Also, it’s already reported that OKC has no interest in trading for Giannis. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs aren’t interested either considering their timeline.

The fans already saw a backlash of trading Luka for AD.

Giannis means everything to the Bucks.

Trading Giannis for Karl freakin Anthony Towns and OG/Bridges LOL, is laughable.

Think about it objectively, there are a solid 10-15 teams that would offer a better deal.


So if it’s only New York you might as well say **** it Giannis expires here.

Or Sucks to be Giannis but I’m trading you with some years on ur contract to the highest bidder of picks / players / young stars.

There’s simply no incentive to trade with New York. It’s not Giannis or Knicks in control, it’s the BUCKS general manager.

[Eric Millegan]

I want to see Giannis in Europe, but I hope he is single team NBA guy. It does not matter how many titles you win, single team legends always remembered far more fairly.

John Stockton, Elgin Baylor, Rik Smits, Reggie Miller would be more remembered if they won a championship.

That’s arguable

I remember more Reggie and Stockton than Horry who won 6

Then Dirk won only one but tops Horry 6 any day of the week for me

Horry won 7 and should be in HOF.

[Diop]

Giannis told me he loves teal and only wants to play for Charlotte

[Wolveswin]

If i'm the Bucks i'm asking for Brunson + OG or Hart or Bridges.

If I'm NYK, i'm really, sitting and thinking about this one.

The problem with Giannis is he had no supporting cast. Ideally you'd want to pair Brunson with Giannis and obviously have that BIG + Guard combo that wins many championships. But the Knicks don't got the assets. Bucks aren't taking KAT + OG/Hart for Giannis. That makes no sense for them as they can just get on a call with the Spurs or OKC and get young talent up the Wazoo.

So then it comes down to gettin Giannis for Brunson + a guard/forward. Knicks would end up with something like a KAT-Giannis-Bridges-Hart lineup, but with a gaping hole at the 1 spot.

Bucks would have something like a Turner - Bobby Portis - OG - Porter jr - Brunson.

Truthfully that's a fair trade. If New York didn't go HAM and empty the clip on Bridges and Kat, they'd be in a position to get Giannis with Brunson. To me, Depth is the biggest factor now in the NBA, so this trade works out if New York is gung ho for Giannis. But at the expense of Brunson, which feels not right.

They can ask for it, doesn’t mean they’d get it. Brunson would never go in a deal for Giannis. It’d be KAT in the deal.

Also, it’s already reported that OKC has no interest in trading for Giannis. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs aren’t interested either considering their timeline.

The fans already saw a backlash of trading Luka for AD.

Giannis means everything to the Bucks.

Trading Giannis for Karl freakin Anthony Towns and OG/Bridges LOL, is laughable.

Think about it objectively, there are a solid 10-15 teams that would offer a better deal.


So if it’s only New York you might as well say **** it Giannis expires here.

Or Sucks to be Giannis but I’m trading you with some years on ur contract to the highest bidder of picks / players / young stars.

There’s simply no incentive to trade with New York. It’s not Giannis or Knicks in control, it’s the BUCKS general manager.

A lot of that isn’t true in reality.

1. Bucks won’t get young stars/picks/players for 2 years (or less depending on when traded) for Giannis who has NY dreams. The time to get those types of offers was summer of 2024. That shipped has sailed for Bucks. Sorry fans.
2. Letting him expire for nothing is setting Bucks organization back decades. That stubbornness sinks organizations.
3. Knicks offer of Towns/OG plus is pretty damn good. Towns should be forwarded to 3rd team for package of youth and picks. No teams are beating that offer with flight risk that is Giannis.

What needs exploring is extension and trade. But if Giannis wants NY only - that ship has also sailed.

[Wooderson]

They can ask for it, doesn’t mean they’d get it. Brunson would never go in a deal for Giannis. It’d be KAT in the deal.

Also, it’s already reported that OKC has no interest in trading for Giannis. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs aren’t interested either considering their timeline.

The fans already saw a backlash of trading Luka for AD.

Giannis means everything to the Bucks.

Trading Giannis for Karl freakin Anthony Towns and OG/Bridges LOL, is laughable.

Think about it objectively, there are a solid 10-15 teams that would offer a better deal.


So if it’s only New York you might as well say **** it Giannis expires here.

Or Sucks to be Giannis but I’m trading you with some years on ur contract to the highest bidder of picks / players / young stars.

There’s simply no incentive to trade with New York. It’s not Giannis or Knicks in control, it’s the BUCKS general manager.

A lot of that isn’t true in reality.

1. Bucks won’t get young stars/picks/players for 2 years (or less depending on when traded) for Giannis who has NY dreams. The time to get those types of offers was summer of 2024. That shipped has sailed for Bucks. Sorry fans.
2. Letting him expire for nothing is setting Bucks organization back decades. That stubbornness sinks organizations.
3. Knicks offer of Towns/OG plus is pretty damn good. Towns should be forwarded to 3rd team for package of youth and picks. No teams are beating that offer with flight risk that is Giannis.

What needs exploring is extension and trade. But if Giannis wants NY only - that ship has also sailed.

So on the one hand Giannis isnt worth some massive haul, but at the same time not trading him sets them back decades? What?

Towns is about to turn 30 and if a deal happens next summer only has one year left on a $57M contract. Doubt he'd even have a ton of value outgoing to other teams. OG isnt getting some amazing package either (hell he only brought back Quickley/Barrett). Missing out on that sure ain't setting team back decades.

If im wrong and those guys do have great value, Knicks should have no problem bringing in a 3rd/4th team to get assets actually appealing to the Bucks. Cause KAT/OG do nothing for a rebuild. Bucks need their picks from ATL/PDX and/or a diff teams picks far out or blue chip prospect.

[RHODEY]

This isn’t a shot at most Knicks fans.

But if there’s a trade for Giannis you give whatever you can and don’t think twice about it.

This is Giannis we are talking about.

Dont agree, you do what make your team better.

Correct, so a Brunson and Giannis pairing is making your team better.

Not if you lose the best shooting center in the league and the one of the best corner 3 shooters and wing defenders- either Mikal or OG take your pick. On top of that you likely have to add Deuce Mcbride as sweetener even though he gives you more than sweetener impact on both sides of the court...and you have to add more on top pf that probably add another young player or 2.

So now you have a guy , who is better than Kay individually,but doesn't stretch the floor. This is another topic but many of you are really sleeping on how talented KAT is in his own right, and how much he stretches the floor AND rebounds. Another thing is Giannis wont play center so who can we put next to him? Mitch Robinson? Spacing obliterated....

Giannis is still better sure but from a team aspect not if you trade Kat for him...IMO.

[HMFFL]

LOL you're a mod talking like that? Knicks are CONTENDERS with one of the best tarting 5 fives in the entire league. And they now have one of the better benches in the league and a coach who knows how to manage depth. Knicks don't have to star chase at this point, but if we do we aren't selling the farm. Mikal + Hart(or Mitch) and change....nothing more. In LEON we trust.

Talking like what?

You seem to be delusional if you believe the Knicks have the best starting five in the league.

I see a bunch of overpaid talent that haven't even made an All-Star team and a 5 that must be motivated at all times.

In this case, you're by no means chasing a star, Giannis is a superstar, and your roster doesn't have a superstar on it.

What are you talking about? Both Brunson and Towns made the All-star team together last year as STARTERS!

The Knicks hate is unreal lol

Ah, so you pick the two players that made the all-star team? How about the rest of the talent on the team that aren't worth the money they're being paid but a certain Knicks fan on here believes Milwaukee will want them? That Knick fan believes the Bucks will want your non all-star talent.

Feel free to focus on your fellow Knick fan(s) and not me.

[Wolveswin]

The fans already saw a backlash of trading Luka for AD.

Giannis means everything to the Bucks.

Trading Giannis for Karl freakin Anthony Towns and OG/Bridges LOL, is laughable.

Think about it objectively, there are a solid 10-15 teams that would offer a better deal.


So if it’s only New York you might as well say **** it Giannis expires here.

Or Sucks to be Giannis but I’m trading you with some years on ur contract to the highest bidder of picks / players / young stars.

There’s simply no incentive to trade with New York. It’s not Giannis or Knicks in control, it’s the BUCKS general manager.

A lot of that isn’t true in reality.

1. Bucks won’t get young stars/picks/players for 2 years (or less depending on when traded) for Giannis who has NY dreams. The time to get those types of offers was summer of 2024. That shipped has sailed for Bucks. Sorry fans.
2. Letting him expire for nothing is setting Bucks organization back decades. That stubbornness sinks organizations.
3. Knicks offer of Towns/OG plus is pretty damn good. Towns should be forwarded to 3rd team for package of youth and picks. No teams are beating that offer with flight risk that is Giannis.

What needs exploring is extension and trade. But if Giannis wants NY only - that ship has also sailed.

So on the one hand Giannis isnt worth some massive haul, but at the same time not trading him sets them back decades? What?

You don’t understand getting something is better than nothing? And as much as you attempt to belittle those two, Towns/OG plus is something.

Bucks aren’t getting a blue chip youth for Giannis. Not any more.

[mademan]

A lot of that isn’t true in reality.

1. Bucks won’t get young stars/picks/players for 2 years (or less depending on when traded) for Giannis who has NY dreams. The time to get those types of offers was summer of 2024. That shipped has sailed for Bucks. Sorry fans.
2. Letting him expire for nothing is setting Bucks organization back decades. That stubbornness sinks organizations.
3. Knicks offer of Towns/OG plus is pretty damn good. Towns should be forwarded to 3rd team for package of youth and picks. No teams are beating that offer with flight risk that is Giannis.

What needs exploring is extension and trade. But if Giannis wants NY only - that ship has also sailed.

So on the one hand Giannis isnt worth some massive haul, but at the same time not trading him sets them back decades? What?

You don’t understand getting something is better than nothing? And as much as you attempt to belittle those two, Towns/OG plus is something.

Bucks aren’t getting a blue chip youth for Giannis. Not any more.

It's never nothing because other teams will make offers, even if Giannis prefers the Knicks. Other teams will beat out a Towns/OG offer. Giannis is a top 4-5 player and maybe top 2 in the NBA...there's not only gonna be 1 bidder, no matter what Giannis says.