Knicks' Two-Week Shot at Giannis Slips

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Knicks had a brief, roughly two-week window this summer when Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to play in New York and offers were made, but no deal was completed. That missed chance matters — passing on a generational star changes the arc of a franchise, and New York now had to watch Giannis dominate them on the court. Merlin sees why the front office paused: New York was already reshaping the roster (trading RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby), absorbing other big moves and installing coach Mike Brown, so continuity felt safer than another seismic swap. Still, if the Knicks flop in the playoffs again, patience will curdle and the hunt for a true superstar will grow urgent.