Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Knicks
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Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson's chemistry was rough in their first season together. Will the New York Knicks break them up for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
With the New York Knicks monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s situation in Milwaukee Bucks, per James Edwards III of The Athletic, the next question to ask is how could they land him if he becomes available?
Mikal Bridges can no longer be part of the trade package until the next trade deadline or six months after he signed his four-year, $150 million extension.
So, if Antetokounmpo seeks a trade before the season, Karl-Anthony Towns is the most logical choice to headline the Knicks’ outgoing package.
Here is one interesting trade scenario floated by Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes.
New York Knicks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Danny Wolf, 2026 first-round swap (NYK), 2028 first-round swap (worst of NYK and BKN), 2030 first-round swap (NYK)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Josh Hart, 2026 second-round pick (MIL via NYK), 2026 second-round pick (MIN via NYK)
Since the Knicks are over the first apron, they cannot send out lower than the money they are receiving back. Towns’ salary is $1 million short of Antetokounmpo’s $53.1 million salary.
In Hughes’ trade proposal, the Knicks would need to rope in a third team to facilitate a trade.
Enter the Brooklyn Nets, who is the only remaining team with a ton of cap room. They can easily absorb the remaining three years and $63 million left on Hart’s current deal. They get two second round picks and a flippable Hart contract for more draft assets down the road.
Towns-Antetokounmpo Swap Will Alter Knicks Style
After news resurfaced that Giannis Antetokounmpo was still 'opened-minded' about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks were named a top landing spot for the 2021 NBA Finals MVP.
GettyKarl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks heads for the net as Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks defends.
For the Knicks, swapping Antetokounmpo for Towns will abandon their five-man out concept. But Antetokounmpo will provide the rim protection that they will never get from Towns.
Hughes adds: Antetokounmpo is “the vastly superior player in virtually every other area” except from the 3-point distance.
The Knicks’ lack of draft asset may keep the Bucks to look elsewhere. For this deal to happen, Antetokounmpo should specifically ask the Bucks to trade him to the Knicks. The two-time NBA MVP has built enough equity in Milwaukee to get his wish done after leading them to their first championship in 50 years. And besides, there is no incentive for the Bucks to go full rebuilding mode without their own draft picks.
Getting Towns will not make them a contender, but at least, the Bucks could still contend for the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference.
Giannis Still Weighing His Bucks Future
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo is still undecided about his future in Milwaukee.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee remains in doubt.
“We’re standing here, it’s Aug. 4. Sources tell me there’s still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving,” Charania said on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Aug. 4. “And so, he’s going to continue to evaluate his future.
“I reported it in mid-May that he’s evaluating whether his best fit is in Milwaukee or is it elsewhere. And that process is continuing. There’s been some very real conversations over the past week or so. The constant question that Giannis has, though, is, ‘Can I win a championship with this roster? Is this roster going to be one for this upcoming year and 2026-2027?’ He wants to win a second championship. So, he’s asking that question over and over.”
The Bucks essentially replaced Brook Lopez, who signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, with Myles Turner. And then they got career backup point guard Cole Anthony to fill in the spot left by the injured Damian Lillard, whose remaining $103 million contract was waived and stretched to create cap room to sign Turner.
But those are not needle-movers which makes Antetokounmpo antsy about his chance to win a coveted second ring.
Going to the Knicks without gutting their roster could be his best bet to get back into the NBA Finals.
Imagine a starting five of Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, Bridges, OG Anunonoby, Antetokounmpo with Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele and Mitchell Robinson coming off the bench. That’s a title contending eight-man rotation.
The Knicks fans can only dream.