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

[Wolveswin]

Uh except all the reporting now is saying its not just Knicks. Knicks and Bucks talked first but the Knicks offer wasn't close to what the Bucks wanted if you believe the reporting. Which is exactly my point, Knicks offer stinks.

Hence..."Shams Charania: Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis have been “figuring out” which teams could find a way to acquire him if he were to request a trade mid-season".

For the nth times, its laughable to think missing out on KAT with 1/2 years on his deal and OG at $40M+ sets the franchise back decades. DECADES!

If Towns/OG+ is best offer Bucks have - and choose nothing instead - that action sets Bucks back for decades. Imagine Giannis walking and Bucks hand delivering other franchises top 3 picks for like next 4 years post Giannis - and STILL not being able to tank for a blue chipper. ‘But but we would have cap space’. Yes, because premium free agents are flocking to play in Milwaukee for a roster void of any talent whatsoever.

I get you aren’t high on Towns and OG. You know what Towns just was traded for in real world - and is worth more today than at that time. That is your poor evaluations lens you are looking through. Not reality.

Bolded likely happens regardless. Strongly disagree Towns is worth more than he was before. He can't play C and likely will only have one year left on his contract assuming it's a 2026 offseason deal. That's the point. Randle/Donte/crappy FRP for Towns was not some major haul. Towns probably gets one FRP and doubtful it's even Bucks FRP owned by ATL/PDX. OG might get one of those back. So again, Bucks are stuck in that situation either way. Unless you think Towns/OG get back most of the Bucks picks they owe out, they're screwed regardless. Bucks would be highly incentivized to hold out for a haul of those picks back or other likely high firsts/blue chip prospects. If not, ownership might be better off just getting an extra year of revenue from Giannis and hoping with additional assets like future FRPs that are available they can convince Giannis to stay by pulling off another Jrue/Dame trade. Even if the odds are low of that happing.

So Towns makes all star team as starter and leads team to ECF in bright lights of Big Apple and he is worth less? Man you are a bunch of wrong today. Towns is on about every ranking list in top 25 all NBA.

At minimum, I think Blazers would offer Grant (negative filler), youth (Yang) and Bucks owed picks back (at least). That is a great starting point but Bucks would shop Towns for best offer.

[knicksfan974]

Then Giannis is not going to be playing for the New York Knicks.

Odds are this trade doesn't happen, but you aren't the front office and you know this isn't always how it works.

Getting a player like KAT and another quality starter allows them to sell a dream, jerseys, and tickets.

A 30+ year old KAT and quality starter aren't going to fool fans into a "dream". If people think the Bucks situation is so dire that Giannis would be a fool not to leave, then no way in hell is that package selling a "dream" to fans as it would quickly be apparent the team sucks and is a borderline play-in team at best. Decent chance KAT bails anyway and exercises his player option in 2027 and Bucks are left with essentially nothing.

I don't think there is any trade in the cards for the Bucks that would make them instant contenders or give them a bunch on great young pieces to build on.

[giannis and 1]

Considering Giannis would be coming to play with Brunson, Bucks wouldn’t get him. And no team would give up significant pieces without getting the reassurance he’s going to re-up. KAT + other pieces might be the best they can get.

Then Giannis is not going to be playing for the New York Knicks.

Odds are this trade doesn't happen, but you aren't the front office and you know this isn't always how it works.

Getting a player like KAT and another quality starter allows them to sell a dream, jerseys, and tickets.

That is an absolutely atrocious offer

[mademan]

lol you are delusional if you think Rockets have Sengun on table now. I said show me realistic offers.

Ya ok. Let's live in a world where a top 3 player is on the market and teams are holding back premium pieces. Nothing is realistic for you if you think Sengun is 100% off the table

Why don’t you read the title of this thread. You are in wrong thread if you think Giannis value is still top 3 player in NBA without any catches. Your head is in the sand if that is what you are thinking.

I read the title. Giannis wants NY like Dame wanted Miami. NY doesnt have the assets just like Miami didnt

And we're just gonna have to disagree on Giannis's value here. A team like the Spurs will put Castle + ATL 1sts on the table. I can even see Dallas offering the Luka deal (AD/Christie/LA unprotected 1st) which is still better than NY's offer.

Towns and an overpaid OG will not be the best offer on the table, Giannis's preference or not. That i can guarantee

[-Luke-]

Considering Giannis would be coming to play with Brunson, Bucks wouldn’t get him. And no team would give up significant pieces without getting the reassurance he’s going to re-up. KAT + other pieces might be the best they can get.

Then Giannis is not going to be playing for the New York Knicks.

Odds are this trade doesn't happen, but you aren't the front office and you know this isn't always how it works.

Getting a player like KAT and another quality starter allows them to sell a dream, jerseys, and tickets.

What dream would they sell? Competing for the 6-8 seed? Getting KAT and one of OG/Bridges would help the Bucks not to bottom out in the next few years and to bridge a bit of the gap until they have their own picks again. So it's certainly not the worst scenario for the Bucks. But I doubt any Bucks fans would dream big with OG/Towns/Turner and the worst backcourt in the league.

[Wooderson]

So Towns makes all star team as starter and leads team to ECF in bright lights of Big Apple and he is worth less? Man you are a bunch of wrong today. Towns is on about every ranking list in top 25 all NBA.

At minimum, I think Blazers would offer Grant (negative filler), youth (Yang) and Bucks owed picks back (at least). That is a great starting point but Bucks would shop Towns for best offer.

Uhh Towns did not lead the Knicks to the ECF, Brunson did.

First two search results and Towns isn't top 25

ESPN top 100: Towns is ranked 27: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46306594/nba-rank-2025-2026-williams-harden-morant-best-players-50-11
SI top 100: Towns is ranked 26: https://www.si.com/nba/2025-si-nba-100-rankings-nos-50-to-11

Towns not being a centerpiece of Giannis trade =/ him being worthless, nice strawman though.

[symbiotic]

They could have had him if they didn't trade all of those picks, but they did.

Sad for the fanbase. I feel for them for what their front office did trading it all for Mikal Bridges.

The front office are dummies.

[JXL]

They could have had him if they didn't trade all of those picks, but they did.

Sad for the fanbase. I feel for them for what their front office did trading it all for Mikal Bridges.

The front office are dummies.

[Wolveswin]

Ya ok. Let's live in a world where a top 3 player is on the market and teams are holding back premium pieces. Nothing is realistic for you if you think Sengun is 100% off the table

Why don’t you read the title of this thread. You are in wrong thread if you think Giannis value is still top 3 player in NBA without any catches. Your head is in the sand if that is what you are thinking.

I read the title. Giannis wants NY like Dame wanted Miami. NY doesnt have the assets just like Miami didnt

And we're just gonna have to disagree on Giannis's value here. A team like the Spurs will put Castle + ATL 1sts on the table. I can even see Dallas offering the Luka deal (AD/Christie/LA unprotected 1st) which is still better than NY's offer.

Towns and an overpaid OG will not be the best offer on the table, Giannis's preference or not. That i can guarantee

I appreciate your wishful thinking for sure. Losing your team’s superstar is never fun. We will wait and see. Probably next summer.

[Wolveswin]

So Towns makes all star team as starter and leads team to ECF in bright lights of Big Apple and he is worth less? Man you are a bunch of wrong today. Towns is on about every ranking list in top 25 all NBA.

At minimum, I think Blazers would offer Grant (negative filler), youth (Yang) and Bucks owed picks back (at least). That is a great starting point but Bucks would shop Towns for best offer.

Uhh Towns did not lead the Knicks to the ECF, Brunson did.

First two search results and Towns isn't top 25

ESPN top 100: Towns is ranked 27: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46306594/nba-rank-2025-2026-williams-harden-morant-best-players-50-11
SI top 100: Towns is ranked 26: https://www.si.com/nba/2025-si-nba-100-rankings-nos-50-to-11

Towns not being a centerpiece of Giannis trade =/ him being worthless, nice strawman though.

lol ok, top 27. Man, I was way off.

I mean, Knicks got farther last year than year before. Now you are arguing over the meaning of word lead. And splitting hairs from top 25 to top 27. Wow, you are dying an ugly death on that hill of yours.

[ConSarnit]

If Towns/OG+ is best offer Bucks have - and choose nothing instead - that action sets Bucks back for decades. Imagine Giannis walking and Bucks hand delivering other franchises top 3 picks for like next 4 years post Giannis - and STILL not being able to tank for a blue chipper. ‘But but we would have cap space’. Yes, because premium free agents are flocking to play in Milwaukee for a roster void of any talent whatsoever.

I get you aren’t high on Towns and OG. You know what Towns just was traded for in real world - and is worth more today than at that time. That is your poor evaluations lens you are looking through. Not reality.

Bolded likely happens regardless. Strongly disagree Towns is worth more than he was before. He can't play C and likely will only have one year left on his contract assuming it's a 2026 offseason deal. That's the point. Randle/Donte/crappy FRP for Towns was not some major haul. Towns probably gets one FRP and doubtful it's even Bucks FRP owned by ATL/PDX. OG might get one of those back. So again, Bucks are stuck in that situation either way. Unless you think Towns/OG get back most of the Bucks picks they owe out, they're screwed regardless. Bucks would be highly incentivized to hold out for a haul of those picks back or other likely high firsts/blue chip prospects. If not, ownership might be better off just getting an extra year of revenue from Giannis and hoping with additional assets like future FRPs that are available they can convince Giannis to stay by pulling off another Jrue/Dame trade. Even if the odds are low of that happing.

So Towns makes all star team as starter and leads team to ECF in bright lights of Big Apple and he is worth less? Man you are a bunch of wrong today. Towns is on about every ranking list in top 25 all NBA.

At minimum, I think Blazers would offer Grant (negative filler), youth (Yang) and Bucks owed picks back (at least). That is a great starting point but Bucks would shop Towns for best offer.

So the centerpiece for the Bucks would be Yang and 2 swaps getting reversed? That’s absolutely atrocious.

Towns value has not changed.

When he left MIN: 3rd team all-NBA guy who was the 2nd best player on a conference finalist.

Knicks tenure: 3rd team all-NBA guy who was the 2nd best player on a conference finalist. But now he’s getting paid more.

If the Knicks are going to try and trade Towns and OG (good but overpaid) for Giannis they are going to come up short because those guys don’t hold that type of value.

[Wolveswin]

Bolded likely happens regardless. Strongly disagree Towns is worth more than he was before. He can't play C and likely will only have one year left on his contract assuming it's a 2026 offseason deal. That's the point. Randle/Donte/crappy FRP for Towns was not some major haul. Towns probably gets one FRP and doubtful it's even Bucks FRP owned by ATL/PDX. OG might get one of those back. So again, Bucks are stuck in that situation either way. Unless you think Towns/OG get back most of the Bucks picks they owe out, they're screwed regardless. Bucks would be highly incentivized to hold out for a haul of those picks back or other likely high firsts/blue chip prospects. If not, ownership might be better off just getting an extra year of revenue from Giannis and hoping with additional assets like future FRPs that are available they can convince Giannis to stay by pulling off another Jrue/Dame trade. Even if the odds are low of that happing.

So Towns makes all star team as starter and leads team to ECF in bright lights of Big Apple and he is worth less? Man you are a bunch of wrong today. Towns is on about every ranking list in top 25 all NBA.

At minimum, I think Blazers would offer Grant (negative filler), youth (Yang) and Bucks owed picks back (at least). That is a great starting point but Bucks would shop Towns for best offer.

So the centerpiece for the Bucks would be Yang and 2 swaps getting reversed? That’s absolutely atrocious.

Towns value has not changed.

When he left MIN: 3rd team all-NBA guy who was the 2nd best player on a conference finalist.

Knicks tenure: 3rd team all-NBA guy who was the 2nd best player on a conference finalist. But now he’s getting paid more.

If the Knicks are going to try and trade Towns and OG (good but overpaid) for Giannis they are going to come up short because those guys don’t hold that type of value.

Hence the words you read AT LEAST. If 2x swaps are all the Blazers owe the Bucks, those words AT LEAST are enacted.

[Sixers in 4]

Sounds like it's either the Knicks or he walks in 2027. He probably won't walk to the Knicks but he won't be a Buck.

He has already made that decision

[davidv2001]

Remember how Damian Lillard was Miami or bust? Where did he end up? Oh, that’s right, Milwaukee.

The Rockets would offer Sengun and picks for Giannis today if he was legitimately available, even with the risk he doesn’t extend. The Thunder are the class of the league, and they would want to pair Giannis with Durant to try and dethrone them. The Spurs also would make a strong offer, for similar reasons. Plus, Giannis and Wemby are both European players, so they may like the idea of pairing up. Orlando might be willing to put Wagner or Banchero on the table to elevate themselves. If Cleveland flames out again, they could change their tune about trading Mobley for Giannis.

The Bucks would take the best package of an established young player and picks, and that’s not Towns and Anunoby from the Knicks.

[NoStatsGuy]

They could have had him if they didn't trade all of those picks, but they did.

Sad for the fanbase. I feel for them for what their front office did trading it all for Mikal Bridges.

The front office are dummies.

2/10 rage bait.

[California Gold]

Remember how Damian Lillard was Miami or bust? Where did he end up? Oh, that’s right, Milwaukee.

The Rockets would offer Sengun and picks for Giannis today if he was legitimately available, even with the risk he doesn’t extend. The Thunder are the class of the league, and they would want to pair Giannis with Durant to try and dethrone them. The Spurs also would make a strong offer, for similar reasons. Plus, Giannis and Wemby are both European players, so they may like the idea of pairing up. Orlando might be willing to put Wagner or Banchero on the table to elevate themselves. If Cleveland flames out again, they could change their tune about trading Mobley for Giannis.

The Bucks would take the best package of an established young player and picks, and that’s not Towns and Anunoby from the Knicks.

This - I don't know why Knicks fans are pretending that the Bucks wouldn't take the best offer and run. Yeah Giannis could threaten that he won't sign an extension beyond 2027 with whomever is going to trade for him, but I think teams will be willing to risk that to see if he would stay in a championship window. And honestly if Giannis is serious about winning titles then he would stay on any of those teams given their outlook.

I don't think this is one of those situations where Giannis will truly get to decide where he ends up, certainly not for a pennies on the dollar value that the Bucks would receive from the Knicks in comparison to what other teams can offer. That's delusional talk.

[Wolveswin]

Remember how Damian Lillard was Miami or bust? Where did he end up? Oh, that’s right, Milwaukee.

The Rockets would offer Sengun and picks for Giannis today if he was legitimately available, even with the risk he doesn’t extend. The Thunder are the class of the league, and they would want to pair Giannis with Durant to try and dethrone them. The Spurs also would make a strong offer, for similar reasons. Plus, Giannis and Wemby are both European players, so they may like the idea of pairing up. Orlando might be willing to put Wagner or Banchero on the table to elevate themselves. If Cleveland flames out again, they could change their tune about trading Mobley for Giannis.

The Bucks would take the best package of an established young player and picks, and that’s not Towns and Anunoby from the Knicks.

That is the optimistic Bucks fan end of the outcome spectrum - well stated declaration of hope.

On the other end is taking what one can get with Knicks offer sitting in waiting (Towns/OG). With outside chance a win-now team can do a little better but it won’t be the Mobley/Banchero/Wagner/Castle/Sengun types of the world.

Most likely outcome is Bucks rode out the year with Giannis and with one contract year of control remaining - take what you can get is the play (see Knicks).

With let walk for nothing in 2027 an option to.

[BowlRips]

Not that it compares to potential packages, but the Knicks putting up their 2033 1st rounder this offseason certainly helps.

KAT
1 of Bridges/Hart/OG
2026 1st
2033 1st
2030 swap
2032 swap

is atleast an offer that could comp to historical super star packages.

[LethalRangee]

They could have had him if they didn't trade all of those picks, but they did.

Sad for the fanbase. I feel for them for what their front office did trading it all for Mikal Bridges.

The front office are dummies.

If you think 5 late first round picks which have and will continue to turn into nothing burger picks is what makes or breaks the trade, I have a bridge to sell you. Bucks are looking for lottery picks, not guys who will most likely be out of the league within a few years.

Folks underrate NY’s role player talent, Bridges is a good player on a good contract and OG is a premier 3+D player in the league. Either way I don’t think the Knicks should gut their depth for a Giannis who’s on the wrong side of 30 and relies on athleticism for his game. We all saw what happened with Melo.

[old skool]

Lots of fan buffoonery in this thread.

In my opinion, gauging a return for Antetokounmpo by looking at trades involving All-Stars is buffoonery. Antetokounmpo is not an All-Star. He is an All-Star who has been first team All-NBA for seven consecutive seasons. Antetokounmpo has been consistently productive and elite, literally surpassing every other NBA player over that period. Predicting his value by looking at trades of those who have produced a season or two at an elite level is more buffoonery.

It is also buffoonery to think that fans can predict Antetokounmpo's market value next summer. Especially if he is entering his age 32 season following eight consecutive first team All-NBA seasons - which seems likely.

Fans predicting star player movement on news "reports" is buffoonery.

Two summers ago Lillard was demanding a trade to Miami, the only possible outcome. No fans or media reports had Milwaukee as even a remote possibility. Fans and the media were clueless.

This summer Turner was the most highly coveted free agent. Losts of fan and media conjecture on where he would end up, but there was universal agreement that there was ZERO chance he that he could end up in Milwaukee. Which fans and media were clueless on Turner's free agency? That would be all of us.

So here we have clueless fans citing clueless media, smugly predicting Antetokounmpo scenarios cluelessly wrapped in rooting hopes of what they want to see happen, while ignoring the strong possibility of that which none of us are foreseeing. Here we are arguing whose buffoonery is most likely.