Knicks face an uphill battle if the Bucks ever put Giannis on the market

Per Sam Amico, the New York Knicks will be linked “loudly” to Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors if he ever becomes available, yet the practical hurdles are significant. The piece references Bobby Marks’ outline of what a Bucks reset might look like and which teams can truly bid.

The biggest issue is draft capital: Marks notes New York’s only non-swap first is a top-eight protected 2026 pick, likely to remain with Washington. Financially, the Knicks sit over the first apron, meaning they can’t take back more salary than they send out.

That shifts any real pursuit toward player-heavy constructions instead of pick-centric offers. One theoretical route mentioned is Karl-Anthony Towns as the outgoing star, or a package built around OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges (trade-eligible Feb. 1) — but it still leaves New York entering a bidding war short on chips.