Should the Knicks go all-in if Giannis hits the market?

The The New York Knicks are having a good season by any measure. After beating the Orlando Magic on Sunday, they improved to 16-7, good for second place in a watered-down Eastern Conference. They boast the fourth best points per game differential in the league. And they resolutely defend their home courtwinning 13 of 14 games at Madison Square Garden.

But in the end, success is measured in championships. And the Knicks haven’t won one since 1973. So the Knicks have even more motivation than most teams. And when superstars come on the trade market, there’s a zero-sum impact of missing out, given the potential upside for whoever adds him. For example, what if the Oklahoma City Thunder say Giannis Antetokounmpo to their already stellar rotation — a sad possibility given their stockpile of picks and depth?

Therefore, if the Milwaukee Bucks want to trade Antetokounmpo, New York must at least explore a big move for him.

How much would Giannis Antetokounmpo cost the Knicks?

Any such move adds that Antetokounmpo will likely demand Karl-Anthony Towns as the centerpiece of the deal. Interestingly, Towns missed the Knicks’ Sunday matchup against the Orlando Magic with a calf strain — the exact injury that’s been plaguing Antetokounmpo. It’s very likely a coincidence. But something may already be brewing between the Knicks and the Bucks.

Either way, a deal for a two-time MVP in his prime will take more than Towns. It’s important to note that such a deal would likely require a third team. Without getting too specific, it’s fair to assume that Milwaukee would likely want more than just Towns—and they’d insist on a tradeable asset because sending Antetokounmpo away means the Bucks want to rebuild around youth and draft picks.

It’s worth noting that Michal Bridges is off the table until the end of January, given his recent contract extension. So many around the league assume it will be OG Anunoby.

Anunoby is still only 28 years old. The Bucks could flip and trade Anunoby for a decent haul, given how desirable he is to virtually every contending team. Of course, the Knicks don’t want to lose Anunoby. He is an incredible two-way player who thrives in his role on the team. And New York would ideally like to add Antetokounmpo to a core that includes Anunoby, Jalen Brunson and Bridges. But if they are serious about a deal, the Knicks must be willing to give up enough talent.

The problem with sending Towns and Anunoby is that they combine to earn about $92.5 million this season. Antetokounmpo earns around $54 million. ClutchPoints explored the idea that Kuzma he was discussed as another piece the Bucks could trade to the Knicks in the offseason. Myles Turner is another player to watch. He is making around $25 million this season, and the 29-year-old is under contract until 2029.

Turner would be better than the Knicks, as he is a decent replacement for Towns, at least from a shooting standpoint. Milwaukee could also include Bobby Portis, which would mostly even out the salaries.

Any deal for Antetokounmpo would likely cost the Knicks at least one more asset, whether it’s a draft pick or young talent like Pacome Dadieto.

Does Antetokounmpo Improve New York’s Championship Odds?

It’s hard to imagine the Knicks after the Antetokounmpo trade. That changes their starting line-up. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Antetokounmpo is an improvement on Towns in many ways. He is a much better and more versatile defender. And he may be the most dynamic, dominant offensive player in the NBA today. But his shooting would create some lineup challenges for Mike Brown.

Jalen Brunson, Bridges and Antetokounmpo would qualify among the league’s best big threes. And a supporting cast of Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride and Josh Hart would be intriguing – although, as noted earlier, filming and space would be an issue.

Adding a top three player is always worth considering. It may or may not result in a championship this season. But when you factor in the Thunder’s dominance, are the Knicks’ chances really hurt that much?

In fact, the Thunder’s incredibly strong play may make a case for this trade, assuming they don’t have to give up more players than Towns, Anunoby, and Dadiet. Oklahoma City seems borderline unstoppable. And this version of the Knicks may be understaffed.

However, the addition of Antetokounmpo means two top-10 players on the Knicks with enough around them to scare anyone. And that’s before the 2026 offseason, which would likely see an increase in interest among veterans looking to join the Knicks.

The Knicks have tried to win by committee the last few seasons. Injuries have robbed them of seeing exactly what they can do in 2023-24. And last season they were simply short.

But adding someone who’s averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season — similar numbers to what he’s put up the past few seasons — is unlikely to hurt their chances. On the contrary, it may be the only way.

Of course, there are risks. There would be an obvious learning curve. And New York would have to give Antetokounmpo plenty of time to recover from his calf injury, especially given how common Achilles injuries have become around the league lately. But at the end of the day, the Knicks are dangerously close to their first championship in decades. And if a generational player like Antetokounmpo becomes available in the prime of his career, New York should explore a deal.