Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future at the Milwaukee Bucks has been the murkiest lately. The uncertainty and his desire to win more championships have triggered the rumor mills to run overtime. Suddenly, experts ruled out the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors from the top landing spots. Instead, the New York Knicks have taken center stage, and it is Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and the team’s performance in the first half of the season that would seemingly decide their fate.

Tim Bontemps considers the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks to be tier one teams in the East. It’s not an official declaration yet, but everyone seems to agree with it. Meanwhile, Brian Windhorst, on The Hoop Collective podcast, revisited the topic of potential trades involving the Knicks. He mentioned that February 1 will be a key date when Mikal Bridges becomes trade-eligible. Windy viewed the Knicks’ decision at that time as a reflection of how serious they are about contending this season.

“I don’t think the Knicks make any major deals at the deadline because obviously they’re determined to try to make a deal for a certain dude in Milwaukee that we’ve talked about a lot,” Tim MacMahon chipped in. “And assuming Giannis doesn’t amend his ‘hey, if I change my mind in six or seven months’ timeline, assuming he wouldn’t push for a mid-season trade—which would be shocking—why would the Knicks make a move now that might compromise their ability to make a real offer there?”

The Blue and Orange side is trying to win the Eastern Conference for the first time in 25 years, that’s why. And maybe, their chances look brighter than the Milwaukee Bucks doing the same. It might seem uncertain, but no one knows what the team will look like when the February trade window opens. Can the Knicks be Eastern Conference winners worthy? Can they be convincing enough for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Tim MacMahon added, “There’s a lot of factors here, too. They’re also about 5 cents below the second apron. Even just making a trade involving anybody is gonna be very difficult because they have to send out more money than they take in. And there’s only so many moves you can make if you’re that close to the apron anyway. So I think it’s more likely than not that this is basically who their team is this season. We’ll see how good they are, and we’ll see what it looks like.”

Financially speaking, the Knicks are teetering just $3.72 million below the second apron for 2025-26, with a payroll of $204.1 million against the $207.8 million cap. Karl-Anthony Towns earns a massive $53.1 million this season, while Mikal Bridges starts at $33.5 million, rising 8% annually. Bridges even gave up $6 million to help the Knicks stay under the apron, yet their narrow buffer leaves little room for roster moves or bold trades.

To chase Antetokounmpo, earning over $54 million in 2025-26 and holding a $293.4 million supermax potential, the Knicks must get creative. Trading Towns and Bridges, both with player options and trade bonuses, would free financial space and strategic flexibility. Towns’ $57 million and Bridges’ $37.5 million average make them key to a Giannis-era blockbuster.

Now, let’s understand where this conversation began. You see, Giannis is hungry for another Larry O’Brien Trophy. He wants the goldware to adorn his cabinet for the second time. Yet, after the Round 1 exit from the 2025 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers, the Bucks’ core was shaken. Thus began the wild rumors run that took the Greek Freak to LA, San Francisco, and now finally to New York City. Surprisingly enough, the Knicks look more promising to acquire him than the two giants of the West!

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade intentions emerge as the Bucks signal their position to the Knicks

Fairly speaking, Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent 13 historic years with the Bucks, ranking just behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in franchise history. But questions about his long-term future have reached a fever pitch. On Brian Windhorst’s podcast, ESPN panelists Tim MacMahon and Tim Bontemps discussed why a departure might be inevitable. MacMahon stressed that if Giannis were to ask out, “Whether officially or just pushes it to a point where it’s time to trade him, no one’s going to blame him for that.”

Giannis’ extraordinary talent has often operated within constraints the Bucks haven’t fully addressed. Last season, the Bucks fell 119-118 in overtime to the Pacers, marking their third straight first-round exit. The 30-year-old still averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. MacMahon added, “The time to do that was two months ago, or three months ago. Not in August, not in September,” noting the strategic trade advantage occurs mid-year when rosters are flexible and salary cap space is broad.

Yet Giannis returned from EuroBasket in September while recovering from COVID, giving him little time to push a trade. He has not publicly expressed a desire to move, leaving teams guessing, but insiders anticipate action. Marc Stein explained, “The Bucks aren’t even entertaining the idea of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo until he comes to [them] and says, ‘I want to be moved. I want you guys to trade me.’ … He has not formally asked for a trade, and until he does, the Bucks don’t wanna hear it.” Kendrick Perkins boldly predicted, “We will not see Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Bucks uniform at the end of this season,” urging the Bucks to field calls now.

Well, Giannis Antetokoumpo’s next move feels like the NBA’s ultimate cliffhanger. The Bucks are tense, the Knicks are scheming, and every rumor fuels the frenzy. Timing, trades, and team performance all collide in a game of high-stakes chess where only bold moves matter. Whether the Greek Freak stays or storms out, one thing is certain. The Eastern Conference will never look the same again, and everyone is watching.