Analysis: How will Antetokounmpo s deal be subverted by the Knicks lineup and change the team s fate

The Knicks are rumored to be a potential trading target for Giannis Antetokounmpo. What will the final deal look like?

Giannis Antetokounmpo may or may not make a trade request to the Milwaukee Bucks during the offseason. Antetokounmpo spent 12 years with the Bucks and helped the team win its first NBA championship in 50 years. But it is becoming increasingly obvious that this team may not be able to build a truly competitive team around the two-time MVP. Rumors about Giannis’ trade request have been circulating for some time, and it’s no surprise that the New York Knicks were mentioned as a possible trading target after losing the Eastern Conference Finals.

Although Giannis Antetokounmpo's transfer to the Knicks trade was recently poured by New York Times reporter Ian Begley, in the NBA, this is by no means "never". So, what will this big deal look like? How will it affect the future prospects of the New York Knicks?

How can Giannis Antetokounmpo be recruited?

Objectively speaking, the Knicks don't have enough assets to sign Antetokounmpo, at least as the Bucks insist on asking for the highest possible offer. But if Giannis takes the initiative to propose a deal, he will likely provide the Bucks with a list of trades. While the Bucks don't have to trade him to their favorite team, superstars of their level usually have a say in where they end up going. Of course, the Greek monster also expressed his love for the New York Knicks.

Antetokounmpo's salary in the 2025-26 season is expected to reach $57.6 million, so the Knicks' salary must reach this level. Coincidentally, Carl Anthony Towns ($53.1 million) and Miles McBride ($4.3 million) combined to have a combined total of $57.4 million. In theory, it is feasible to reach a deal around these two players. Although the New York Knicks signed Towns on the eve of the 2024-25 season, there are alleged displeased with Towns’ lack of effort and/or understanding of the defensive system.

So, given the role of players' complaints in the resignation of head coach Tom Thibodeau, team president Leon Ross is at least considering such a deal.

The New York Knicks may also add draft picks to the trade. In fact, this deal is necessary. The deal may include first-round pick swaps and/or protected Philadelphia 76ers first-round picks. The New York Knicks can also send out the worst-conditioned first-round picks for the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets in 2029.

Apparently, the New York Knicks prefer to retain some first-round picks. But no matter how many first-round pick swaps the Bucks require, signing Antetokounmpo is too attractive to be overwhelming.

What impact will Giannis have on the depth of the New York Knicks' lineup?

This is where the Antetokounmpo deal becomes fascinating. Will this increase the depth of the Knicks' lineup? Almost certainly. But how much lineup depth can the team retain?

Signing Antetokounmpo could weaken the depth of the New York Knicks, and their depth wasn't very good at the beginning. In most games, the Knicks only have eight players who get meaningful playing time, and some of the rotation players end up being free agents.

The Knicks must renew or replace Cam Payne, Deron Wright, Landry Shamet and Preschöschöwa – although Payne and Wright are both substitute point guards, it seems a bit redundant. Sending McBride to Milwaukee and bringing Payne and Wright into the free agent market means having to bring in an experienced veteran organization core.

In addition, sending Towns to Milwaukee means Mitchell Robinson will be the only center on the roster with NBA experience. Granted, Ariel Hookporty performed well last season, but the combination of injury-ridden Robinson and inexperienced Hookporty needed at least a reliable center to back it up. In other words, the Knicks must also hope to sign a strong center with a basic salary contract.

What impact will Giannis have on the Knicks' defense and offense?

If we assume that free agent signing is going well, the potential on both sides of the offense and defense is tempting to say the least. Antetokounmpo is a major threat to the defensive end. He was selected into the NBA's All-Defensive Team five times and was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year in the 2019-20 season. His height, arms length and athleticism make him an incredible blocker (1.2 blocks per game). But he can also break through the pass route and make mistakes from all players on the field. The lineup of Jaylen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunobi, Antetokounmpo and Robinson will be extremely threatening, they can switch almost everything and are difficult to be targeted by opponents.

Antetokounmpo is also a versatile and athletic beast on the offensive end. The Knicks exchanged their best three-point shooter, Towns, for a player who shot only 22% of the three-point shooting percentage in the 2024-25 season, which is somewhat a pity, but the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Antetokounmpo can speed up the pace and hit the basket as you like in any situation. At the same time, he is also a slightly low-key passer, with his passing level far exceeding the average level (averages 6.5 assists per game in the 2024-25 season).

Authentic, Antetokounmpo will bring challenges to the team's lineup on the offensive end, but he is talented, and these challenges can be considered good things. He is the second player in the Knicks' history to create shooting opportunities, and he will undoubtedly become the best and most accomplished player in the Knicks' history. Brunson fully meets Antetokounmpo's expectations for Damian Lillard when he joined the Milwaukee Bucks two years ago. If he can partner with him, it will probably be a dream come true for all involved..

The Knicks still face many obstacles in signing Antetokounmpo. Frankly, this is unlikely. But rumors suggest that at least this possibility exists. If we have any idea about Leon Ross, it is that he is not afraid to pursue huge contracts.