Giannis Nearly Going to Knicks — Bucks' Roadblock Revealed

Giannis Antetokounmpo told teammates he "believed a trade to the Knicks was quite close to materializing," and reports say New York had an "exclusive negotiating window" with Milwaukee in August. The Knicks were reportedly Giannis’ only outside option, but salary rules, a lack of first‑round picks after the Mikal Bridges trade, and limited matching pieces make a straight swap extremely difficult without adding other teams. Merlin sees a near‑miss that still matters. New York was the preferred suitor but didn’t have the ammo to finish the deal, leaving the Bucks with leverage and Giannis with fewer clear landing spots. This story isn’t closed — tweaks to rosters, creative multi‑team offers, or a shift in priorities could reopen the door.