Knicks may end up being gifted Giannis if Bucks rumors are true
The Milwaukee Bucks appear determined to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in house. Ironically, that very strategy could end up helping the New York Knicks position themselves to pursue him as soon as next offseason.
According to Jake Fischer’s latest report for The Stein Line, Milwaukee is signaling that it plans to be aggressive at the trade deadline in an effort to add help around Giannis. One rival executive told Fischer that the Bucks have convinced their star that they are serious about chasing meaningful upgrades.
The problem is the Bucks lack the assets to truly hunt at the top of the market. That reality shows up in the names linked to them, including Zach LaVine, Jerami Grant, Andrew Wiggins, and Dejounte Murray.
From a Knicks perspective, this is exactly the kind of development worth watching closely.
Milwaukee’s Short-Term Thinking Could Backfire
There is no question that some of the players Milwaukee is rumored to be targeting would help in the short term. LaVine could ease Giannis’ offensive burden, while Wiggins would add a much-needed athletic wing defender.
Still, none of those moves meaningfully close the gap between the Bucks and true championship contention. They would raise the floor, not the ceiling.
If Milwaukee spends what little flexibility it has to acquire one of these players, it may be enough to keep Giannis content through the trade deadline. But it does little to solve the long-term problem. Once the season ends, his future will again dominate the conversation, and the Bucks would have even fewer options to reshape the roster.
That scenario works in New York’s favor.
Why the Knicks Stand to Benefit
The Knicks are unlikely to ever have the single best trade package on paper. What they do have is something harder to quantify, Giannis’ reported interest in playing in New York.
That preference becomes far more powerful over the summer, when he will be just one year away from free agency and holding a 2027-28 player option. At that point, leverage begins to shift.
Timing matters too. Right now, the Knicks cannot include a first-round pick in a Giannis trade. Over the offseason, they can offer up to two first-rounders, a meaningful difference when negotiations begin in earnest.
All of these small advantages add up.
Other Variables Still Matter
None of this guarantees that the Knicks become favorites. Milwaukee could still find a way to improve without sacrificing future flexibility. For example, their reported interest in LaVine may stem from the idea that Sacramento could move him without demanding draft compensation. If that happens, the Bucks could add talent and still retain assets for a larger swing later.
Even then, the Knicks would still face competition from teams with deeper war chests.
But this situation is not about certainty. It is about probability. The way things are unfolding right now increases the chances that Giannis’ situation reaches a breaking point at a time when New York is better equipped to act.
The Big Picture
A lot can change between now and the February 5 trade deadline. Still, the Bucks’ current approach is quietly beneficial for the Knicks. If Milwaukee commits to short-term fixes that fail to elevate them into true contention, the path to a Giannis pursuit next summer becomes clearer.
For New York, that is a win, even before a single move is made.
