The New York Knicks have had a strong offseason so far, making several moves to strengthen their bench.
It all started with a surprising shake-up — the Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau despite reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 2000. After a month-long search and multiple interviews, they appointed two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown as his replacement.
In free agency, New York addressed key weaknesses in their second unit by signing Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele — both expected to provide much-needed bench depth.
They also locked in Mikal Bridges on a lucrative four-year extension. However, that deal was reportedly delayed as the organization waited to see whether Giannis Antetokounmpo would leave the Milwaukee Bucks.
Although the Knicks ultimately moved forward with the Bridges extension, a recent report from ESPN’s Shams Charania suggests Giannis could still be on the move in the near future.
With that possibility still looming, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes proposed a mock three-team trade that would send Giannis to New York, involving the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets.
In the proposed deal:
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The Knicks would land Giannis from Milwaukee.
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They’d send Karl-Anthony Towns and three first-round picks to the Bucks, and Josh Hart plus two second-round picks to the Nets.
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Meanwhile, Brooklyn would send Danny Wolf to Milwaukee.
It’s a bold move for all parties — especially New York — who’ve long pursued Giannis. Letting go of both Towns and Hart would be a difficult call, but adding Giannis to a core of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges could make the Knicks instant title contenders in the East.
Still, it’s worth noting that Giannis hasn’t requested a trade, and many around the league doubt he will. Even if he does, multiple teams are better positioned to offer Milwaukee a more appealing package of young talent and draft picks, which could complicate New York’s pursuit.
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