The Knicks’ offseason trade talks with Giannis included an offer from the Bucks with Kyle Kuzma

The New York Knicks‘ exclusive off-season negotiating period for Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the headlines ahead of the 2025-26 season. Antetokounmpo’s recent displeasure over Milwaukee Bucks is alleged is approaching the boiling point. A decision on the potential trade claim is awaited in the coming weeks, per ESPN.

Little is known about what specifically happened in the Knicks’ exclusive window, other than the apparent lack of a deal. Sources familiar with the situation tell ClutchPoints that trade talks between the teams included Milwaukee submitting a trade proposal to New York that includes both Antetokounmpo and the forward Kyle Kuzma.

The level of interest the Knicks have in that particular deal is unknown. The Bucks discussing a trade that includes both their superstar and Kuzma could, however, narrow down the options for what the rest of that proposed trade could look like.

At the time, New York couldn’t send back more salary than they were sending because they were over the first salary cap. That limits what the returns for both forwards could be, removing an intriguing trio of players from the realm of possibility.

With Antetokounmpo and Kuzma both headed to the Knicks in the offseason, the team wouldn’t be able to send all three of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson in return. Few other combinations of players would have worked at the time, despite just the two Bucks combining for over $76.5 million in payroll this season.

The Knicks’ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo gets complicated as the season progresses

Another complication arose from a separate offseason transaction: the Mikal Bridges extension. Knicks president Leon Rose followed his 2024 replacement Bridges with a four-year extension, $150 million in July. That removed Bridges from all possible trades until Jan. 31, just one week before the 2026 trade deadline. New York was unable to come to an agreement with Bridges in August, when the offseason negotiation period reportedly opened.

That recently signed cap also complicates any offseason pursuit of Antetokounmpo by the Knicks. Unless the superstar and both teams are willing to wait until Jan. 31, 2026 to reach a deal, Bridges can’t be a part of it.

If Antetokounmpo’s talks with the Bucks lead to a trade request, the 30-year-old superstar is expected to dictate the terms. He will tell your front office where he wants to play. Milwaukee will “try to make the best possible deal with that team,” according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

The Knicks’ acquisition of Antetokounmpo is contingent on the 2021 Finals MVP still wanting to be dealt to New York. Other teams, unsurprisingly, have interest. And despite the reported “exclusive negotiation period” in August, that “will not be the case moving forward,” according to Shams Charania.

Antetokounmpo’s contract has a player option for the 2027-28 season. Telling the Bucks they won’t extend with any team other than the Knicks immediately makes the lack of an exclusive window pointless. 28 other NBA teams would certainly have interest in trading for one of the league’s best players at the right price. The ball is in Antetokounmpo’s court to decide which team he will shoot for.