The Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors were true.
While many people have speculated about the superstar’s future in Milwaukee in the past, this summer felt different. Antetokounmpo was coming off his third consecutive first-round exit. Milwaukee also lost former star Damian Lillard to an Achilles injury, putting the team in a position to be without its second-leading scorer for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign.
Antetokounmpo has been extremely vocal about the sense of urgency he feels to compete for championships. With the Bucks clearly slipping further and further away from that goal, a report surfaced in May that said Antetokounmpo was officially “open-minded” about a future outside of Milwaukee.
The organization responded with another extremely bold roster move in free agency. Only two seasons after acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, the team opted to stretch and waive the sharpshooter in order to sign Myles Turner away from Indiana. The decision has put $20+ million of dead money on their books for the foreseeable future, but it has seemingly kept Antetokounmpo in a Bucks jersey … for now.
Indeed, even with Antetokounmpo set to begin Year 13 with the Bucks, the speculation remains. The Bucks appear to be on extremely thin ice with the two-time MVP, especially after a new report shed light on how seriously Antetokounmpo considered leaving this offseason.
Mar 22, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after scoring against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesGiannis Antetokounmpo Wanted to Go to New York?
Despite the NBA regular season still weeks away, the trade rumors are flowing.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo has come up with one destination where he would consider taking his talents:
“Several teams were discussed internally, but one emerged as the only place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee: the New York Knicks, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN … The Bucks picked up the Knicks’ call on Antetokounmpo, and the sides engaged in conversations for a window of time in August, league sources said, but the teams never got traction on a deal.”
In other words, not only did Antetokounmpo reportedly tell the Bucks that he was interested in going to the Big Apple, but the Bucks actually followed up!
Charania does go on to state that the Bucks still had zero desire to move the Greek Freak and that New York was wary that the negotiations were even being had in earnest. With that being the case, an offer suitable enough to bring Antetokounmpo to New York was never made, per the report. The full breakdown of what went down is very much worth a read on ESPN dot com.
Even if genuine trade offers were not thrown out, the mere fact that there was a discussion with a specific team says A LOT about where things currently stand in Milwaukee. More specifically, it puts the organization under immense pressure for the 2025-26 season. What if they get off to a rough start? What if an injury occurs to a key player? What if Antetokounmpo sees the Knicks at the top of the East standings? If we view this as essentially a soft trade request, I think we all know what the next step could be.
Look, Antetokounmpo has been nothing but loyal to the Bucks franchise since he entered the league. For as much pressure as he’s put on them in recent years, he has also consistently given them his all both as a player and team ambassador. At the same time, he has made it increasingly clear that winning means more than anything. If the Bucks aren’t showing signs of returning to contender status, this season could suddenly see a MASSIVE shake-up.
The last thing I’ll say for now is this – the Bucks don’t need to honor Antetokounmpo’s demands. Would they likely try to do what’s best for him? Sure, but they went out and grabbed Damian Lillard when he only wanted to go to Miami. If we do reach a point where Antetokounmpo requests a change of scenery, the Knicks may not be the only option on the table. I’m sure every single team will pick up the phone, and the bidding war could lead to a historic trade return.
Hey Jon Horst, any interest in every Chicago Bulls first-rounder ever?
Oh, My: Giannis Antetokounmpo May Have Just Been Linked to the Chicago BullsHence then, the article about nba bombshell giannis antetokounmpo bucks evaluated knicks trade this offseason was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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