Nov 30, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks are headed for an offseason of change and the New York Knicks are reportedly monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo. Is this real life?
Giannis Antetokounmpo still has two full years and a player option year left on his current contract. Milwaukee is a long way away from any hypothetical decision about having to trade Giannis or risk losing him in free agency. And there’s no reason to think a trade demand from his camp is anywhere on the horizon.
And yet, Brian Windhorst has woken ancient NBA trade rumors, by mentioning the Knicks and their interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Windhorst, what are we doing here? The Knicks are devoting “3 percent” of their attention to Giannis? Which 3 percent? And how are you measuring that precise data point? What does “3 percent” of a team’s attention actually look like?
NBA rumors: Knicks are monitoring the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation
Of course the Knicks are “monitoring” the Giannis situation because, like every other team in the NBA, they would love to trade for him if he suddenly became available. Windhorst doesn’t mention any specific details about the Knicks’ interest or any specific actions they might be taking. And again, the Giannis trade “situation” is completely imaginary at this point.
He hasn’t asked for a trade and there’s no real reason to think he will. The external pressures that could cause him and the team to really wrestle with their futures together are years away. The Knicks would love to trade for Giannis. But there’s not only no fire here, there’s not even any smoke.
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