The New York Knicks were just two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 26 years. Unfortunately for this storied franchise and its passionate fans, they still came up short.
The Indiana Pacers came out on top in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday, 125-108, thereby marking the end of what ultimately turned out to be a disappointing season for the Knicks.
It will be a very intriguing offseason for this franchise as the front office decides whether or not they should come back next year with the same core or if it's time to shake things up.
NBA insider Bill Simmons shared his thoughts on the Knicks' current dilemma, and the renowned league guru floated the idea of New York going all in on Giannis Antetokounmpo.
There has been a lot of talk about Antetokounmpo's future with the Bucks as the two-time NBA MVP is linked to a potential move away from Milwaukee this summer. Simmons floated a hypothetical trade scenario wherein the Knicks land Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster three-team deal.
New York Knicks
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls the ball against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8).
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
According to Simmons, the San Antonio Spurs will need to be the third team in this landscape-shifting trade. The Spurs would get either OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges from the Knicks.
The Bucks, on the other hand, will receive Devin Vassell and multiple first-round picks from San Antonio. Milwaukee will also swap its cornerstone superstar with the Knicks for Karl-Anthony Towns.
The big prize for New York is Antetokounmpo, who would be under contract through 2028. Simmons added, though, that the Knicks would also need to take on "a couple of contracts" as part of the deal, naming Pat Connaughton and Kyle Kuzma as additional pieces in the hypothetical trade.
There's no denying that a trade of this magnitude would send shockwaves across the league. The Knicks will need to part ways with a number of significant assets, but they get the opportunity to pair Antetokounmpo with Jalen Brunson, making them a legitimate threat to the title for the next several years.
Simmons, however, added one major caveat.
"I don't think this will happen because if I'm Milwaukee, I just wouldn't do it," he predicted. "I'd rather keep Giannis, take him into February (for the trade deadline).
"And if we have to trade him then, I just feel like I have more leverage at that point. I wouldn't do it. I would not trade Giannis."