Giannis-to-Knicks Trade Talks Collapse, Bucks Wary

Merlin sees a quietly explosive summer: the Knicks and Bucks engaged in a "multi-week process" of trade talks about Giannis Antetokounmpo after reports that "the Knicks were the only team Giannis would entertain getting traded to." Talks stalled because Milwaukee judged New York’s offers weak and "insisted...they preferred not to move" their superstar. Giannis told GM Jon Horst he had "serious questions" about the Bucks’ ability to contend and is expected to "keep his options open," meaning a formal trade request could surface in 2025-26 if results falter. Merlin notes the stakes: Giannis is still an elite force nearing 31, and the Bucks reshaped around him — adding Myles Turner while waiving Damian Lillard — to chase another title. With top rivals hobbled by injuries, the window is muddled; winning, not loyalty, will decide Giannis’s fate.