Fresh off their NBA Cup semi-finals win, the New York Knicks appear to be trending in the right direction. Even as trade rumors swirl around their team. The Knicks have been linked to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokoumpo, and New York appears to be the favorite to land him in the event that he is moved.
What is so interesting about the Knicks' rumored pursuit of Giannis is that they don't actually own any of their first-round picks going forward. That means they will have to primarily rely on players, not picks, to win over the Bucks.
The two most likely trade packages would see the Knicks trade OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Tyler Kolek, and pick swaps or trade Karl-Anthony Towns for Giannis. Towns might end up going to a third team in that scenario, but the former trade package would seemingly be the most likely trade.
Knicks' path to a Luka Doncic-like Giannis trade heist is crystal clear
That might be underwhelming considering that Giannis is one of the best players in the NBA. However, according to ESPN's Tim Bontempts and Brian Windhorst, teams are wary about trading first-round picks, and that could depress Giannis' trade value.
If teams aren't throwing three or four firsts in Milwaukee's direction, then the Knicks might actually have a competitive offer. It also helps that Giannis apparently wants to play there and that the Bucks are expected to help him get to his preferred destination, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
If the Knicks are able to turn Anunoby, Hart, and Kolek plus pick swaps into Giannis, that would be an epic trade heist. One on par with the Luka Dončić trade last season.
The Knicks could emerge as true contenders with Giannis
New York fans would certainly hope so since it would make them the clear favorites with a potential big three of Jalen Brunson, Giannis, and Towns and a weak Eastern Conference. Ironically, despite them being a big market team, the Knicks haven't exactly been a big free agency or trade destination.
Landing Giannis would end all of that and signal a full shift for New York. They have had a couple of deep playoff runs with their current core, but they could achieve championship potential with Giannis leading the team and Brunson serving as a co-star or 1A option.
That may not put them on par with the Oklahoma City Thunder, at least on paper, but they'd have a possible clear path to the NBA Finals.