Amid reports that Giannis Antetokounmpo favors a trade to the New York Knicks, ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks suggested a hypothetical scenario that could also bring a former Lakers forward to New York, signaling a potential major shakeup for the team.
Marks noted that a straight swap of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns, each earning $54.1 million, balances financially on paper, but the Milwaukee Bucks would demand additional assets to part with their most accomplished player in franchise history. Since the Knicks lack tradeable first-round picks, they might need to include a key core piece like Mikal Bridges, potentially adding Kyle Kuzma to make the salaries match, Marks suggested on “NBA Today” Tuesday.
In the hypothetical trade floated by Bobby Marks, the New York Knicks would acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Kuzma, while the Milwaukee Bucks would receive Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges in return.
The Bucks’ uncertain stance on Giannis Antetokounmpo
It’s important to note that Mikal Bridges, who signed an extension last summer, cannot be traded before February 1, 2026. Some insiders have suggested that the Knicks could move a core player or two to acquire draft picks for a potential Giannis trade, especially if the Bucks insist on receiving a mix of young talent and draft assets.
With their own limited draft capital, the Bucks might decide to focus on a rebuild rather than absorb the contracts of Towns and Bridges.
If the Bucks choose that path, franchises like the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Atlanta Hawks would have a stronger chance of completing a trade for Giannis. Even the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors, two other teams likely to pursue Antetokounmpo aggressively, can still provide at least two first-round draft picks.
Sidelined with a calf strain, Giannis Antetokounmpo is weighing his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, the team that drafted him in 2013. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, he and his representatives have been actively engaging with the franchise while exploring potential options.
