{"id":147989,"date":"2025-06-30T12:52:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T16:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=147989"},"modified":"2025-06-30T12:52:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T16:52:16","slug":"knicks-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/30\/knicks-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-rumors\/","title":{"rendered":"Knicks Still in On NBA’s Biggest Trade Target"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2024-25 NBA season is officially in the books, the NBA Draft has come and gone, and now the much-awaited off-season has begun. With the “legal tampering period” beginning at 6 p.m. ET tonight, teams will be able to directly negotiate with free agents, giving us a clue about where certain guys will land. Soon, we will have an idea about which direction the 30 franchises are going to improve their rosters. Some will attempt to add on the margins of rosters already prepared to contend, while others will shed talent to rebuild for the future. Others have their eye on the ultimate prize: Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>. It’s unclear just how many teams are legitimately considering a blockbuster trade for the two-time MVP, but the New York Knicks are definitely in that group.<\/p>\n

Knicks Still in On NBA’s Biggest Trade Target<\/h2>\n

New York has several directions<\/a> it can go in this off-season. They can bring back the same seven core players and run it back with additional depth. They can hope their sophomores develop into playable rotation guys on top of that. Leon Rose could swing a trade of smaller magnitude or target Jaren Jackson Jr.<\/a> if he becomes available<\/a>. Unfortunately, in today’s salary cap league, it’s very difficult to make trades when you’re pushed up against the second apron, as the Knicks are. If they wish to improve their roster through free agent signings, they only have the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.7M) available to them. Other than that, Rose will have to upgrade his rotation with veteran minimum deals.<\/p>\n

So, with New York limited in how they can raise their ceiling, a blockbuster trade could be a possibility. Some may disagree with blowing up the core after making the Eastern Conference Finals in year one, but there’s no doubt that NY needs to bring a better roster to Opening Night to compete with Oklahoma City and others. Rose may deem that the best way to do so is to go for the biggest trade target on the market in years.<\/p>\n

Would Giannis Be Available for New York?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has repeatedly stated that the Knicks are “in on Giannis Antetokounmpo” over the past few days. According to Windhorst, there’s a reason<\/a> NY wasn’t interested in Kevin Durant<\/a>, despite trying to trade for him last season. Durant’s camp was interested in New York, but they rebuffed him, apparently to hold out for Antetokounmpo. Now, the Knicks face hefty obstacles in acquiring the future Hall of Famer. First, he may not even hit the market this summer. Second, New York will definitely not have the best offer if he is auctioned off.<\/p>\n

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This is the second day in a row Brian Windhorst has gone on television to say that the Knicks and other teams are holding out for Giannis\u2026
pic.twitter.com\/j14k3caZvC<\/a><\/p>\n

— Let\u2019s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) June 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n