With the NBA trade deadline closing later in the week, rumors and trade talks will begin to swirl, but one name has been hot in the press recently: Giannis Antetokounmpo. This has been the case since it was reported that the two-time MVP and the Milwaukee Bucks would be working together to find a new team for the Greek international to play for.
One of the franchises consistently tied to Antetokounmpo is the New York Knicks, due to their trade chips and future draft capital, which would be desirable to the Bucks in a potential trade.
However, as reported by ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Knicks haven't been all too engrossed in trade talks with the Bucks, given that they're content with the current roster and the current standing of their team in the first half of the season.
"The Knicks believe in this team… they believed in this team last summer when Giannis [Antetokounmpo] was sort of loosely available, in those discussions, they didn't make an aggressive offer at the time to progress those talks, if they want to win a bidding war for Giannis now, I think it's going to take a three to four team trade… that is just not happening, they are not showing that aggression to get Giannis right now," explained Windhorst. "I think that because they like this team. They don't see the Eastern Conference as a giant mountain to climb…"
It's hard not to argue with this logic, given that the Knicks are currently in the second spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 31-18, in a season coming off a trip to the Conference Finals. Looking at the roster itself, it holds two All-Stars in Jalen Brunson (starter) and Karl-Anthony Towns (reserves), while multiple of their other players are putting up solid stat lines.
If Antetokounmpo is to depart the Fiserv Forum this season, the move must be made before the NBA trade deadline closes on Feb. 5 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
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