The New York Knicks are reportedly among Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential suitors.

By NBA Insider Mark SteinNew York was considered a “trade suitor down the road” for the Milwaukee Bucks star, although Stein noted that was before the Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Since the trade, however, “more than one rival team” has “wondered out loud” whether the Knicks made the trade for Towns to later use him in a deal for Antetokounmpo, according to Stein.

Last week, CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter reported that an anonymous Western Conference team executive said “teams are circling and hoping” that Antetokounmpo could be traded at some point during the 2024-25 season.

Reiter also mentioned that another executive said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if a trade happened before the deadline, while a third executive mentioned the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets as preferred trade destinations by Antetokounmpo.

After the Bucks won a championship in 2021, trading Antetokounmpo seemed like a laughable scenario. Three years later, this could be the best decision for both parties.

Milwaukee hasn’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since its title run and is coming off back-to-back first-round exits, including last year when the Bucks brought in veteran star Damian Lillard.

Six games into the 2024-25 season, Antetokounmpo, Lillard and the Bucks are 1-6.

The 2021 NBA MVP has been his usual dominant self, averaging 31 points, 12.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists to start the year. Lillard was also good, with 26.2 points, 6.7 assists and five rebounds early on.

The stellar play of Antetokounmpo and Lillard wasn’t enough to translate into wins in Doc Rivers’ first full season as head coach, however, and some sort of change seems inevitable.

The new-look Knicks have had an average start to the year at 3-2. Towns has been solid, putting up 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and three assists per game, including a 44-point outing in a win over Miami.

Although the 28-year-old Towns could make New York a major threat in the East, the Knicks likely would have no reservations about trading him if it meant bringing in a player like Antetokounmpo.

It remains to be seen whether either team is ready to execute a blockbuster trade this season.