OG Anunoby could be key in the Knicks trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes is well underway, a The New York Knicks could play a big role in them.

Although there are rumors about a The potential trade of Antetokounmpo to the Knicks has swirled — at varying strengths — in a few years, the chatter has increased significantly during the offseason. And now that Antetokounmpo is reportedly open for sale ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, New York is likely to be among the most aggressive suitors.

However, the compilation of a attractive package to send to Milwaukeewho will almost certainly commit to a full rebuild after the Antetokounmpo trade, could prove tricky for the Knicks. That’s because not only will it take a lot to get the Bucks to agree to send Antetokounmpo to New York, but the Knicks, as a result of previous deals, also only have three of their own unprotected first-round picks in the next seven years. Additionally, trading many of them will be complicated by the Stepien Rule, which prohibits teams from trading their future first-round picks in consecutive years.

NBA insider Tim Bontemps believes, however, that Karl-Anthony Towns and, in particular, OG Anunoby could help New York fix your problems with draft assets.

“OG Anunoby, who just got auctioned off, could get you an absolute metric ton of stuff because even though OG Anunoby isn’t Gianni, what he is is the absolute perfect finishing piece for a title team. And there are title teams with a lot of stuff that OG Anunoby would fit in perfectly,” Bontemps told the ‘Hoop Collective. “It would be a very complicated job to accomplish, and it would take a lot of jiu-jitsu to get there, but the Knicks don’t have a choice, I think the Knicks could turn their stuff into a lot of things.”

Anunoby, 28, is in his fourth season with the Knicks, who acquired him from the Toronto Raptors in 2023. Considered one of the best wing defenders in the league, Anunoby has also proven to be a reliable 3-point shooter, increasing his value to New York and the NBA.

However, to accommodate Antetokounmpo’s $54.1 million salary and respect another platform’s trade restrictions, the Knicks would have to shed some salary — and Anunoby, like Towns, makes the most sense in that regard. Towns and Anunoby are making $53.1 million and $39.6 million this year, respectively, and are the team’s highest-paid players. They are also each under contract for several years after this one; Towns has a $61 million player option in 2027, while Anunoby has a $48.3 million option in 2028.

The Knicks are currently tied with the Boston Celtics for second place in the Eastern Conference at 29-18. New York has won its last four games after losing the previous four.

Tomorrow night the Knicks host the Portland Trail Blazers. They have four games left and are in the middle of their 10-game 16-day schedule.