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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks stands for the national anthem before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga has reached exhausting levels, but for a team like the New York Knicks, they won’t stop looking.
As NBA writer Kirk Goldsberry recently dished some intel on the Giannis trade market, he made it known that the Knicks are still in a group of teams to continue “looking at” when it comes to a potential trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Desperation sort of sets in in the NBA when? After the first round of the playoffs,” Goldsberry said on The Ringer’s Bill Simmons podcast.
“So there’s 16 teams, they think they’re in it, two weeks later, there’s eight teams that are out. That’s where I think the Houstons, the Orlandos are gonna merge. The Knicks, Cleveland, that’s the group I’m looking at.’
During the early stages of what seems like a never-ending saga, the Knicks seemed to be in a market of their own for Giannis. As more teams like the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors got involved, the Knicks faded.
The Playoffs Matter Now More Than Ever
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives against Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
GettyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 16: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives against Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are championship contenders. At least, that’s what the payroll says.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson–they are all getting enough dollars to understand that they are in New York to deliver Knicks fans a championship.
Last year, they got close. An Eastern Conference Finals run inspired hope, but came up short against the Indiana Pacers.
The ECF loss forced a big change for the Knicks. They took the head coach route, parting ways with Tom Thibodeau. That doesn’t mean the first-year Knicks coach Mike Brown is totally safe no matter what happens, but another failed title run might lead the Knicks’ front office to point fingers at the players this time around.
That’s when trades happen.
Keep An Eye On Giannis Antetokounmpo
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on January 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Karl-Anthony Towns run in New York has been a roller coaster. At times, he looks like he’s worth every penny. Towns is a proven All-Star, and the hype is truly real.
But then the Knicks run into games like Thursday night’s March 26 action against the Charlotte Hornets. Mike Brown opted to roll with Towns’ backup, Mitchell Robinson, down the stretch of the game as they attempted a comeback.
More Knicks News: KAT Reacts to Alarming Decision in Knicks’ Loss vs Hornets
The decision to do so was based on Towns’s lack of physicality throughout the game.
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GettyKarl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks talk during a free throw by a teammate in the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on November 08, 2024 in New York City.
If physicality is an issue in late March against a hungry Play-In team, then what’s going to happen in the playoffs? There will be a lot to think about if expectations aren’t met.
A healthy Giannis doesn’t bring those concerns. At his peak, he’s an MVP-caliber player. The injury report has been difficult to avoid for Antetokounmpo this year, but when he was on the court, he posted averages of 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
The Giannis-NY dreams aren’t dead. They just aren’t getting the same hype they once did, as other teams start thinking about what their Hail Mary packages for Milwaukee may be.