The New York Knicks want Giannis Antetokounmpo, but with a poor trade package, they need help from the outside if a deal will ever get over the finish line. A solution may have just presented itself. Per insider Jake Fischer (subscription required), the Portland Trail Blazers have always wanted to get involved in a deal if Giannis wanted out because they can use it to upgrade their own roster.
What makes Portland special in this case is that they have control of Milwaukee's draft capital in 2027, 2028, and 2029. They could look to get involved in any multi-team framework and send those picks back to Milwaukee to satisfy everyone's demands. Fischer reports that Portland has "long admired" Knicks wing Mikal Bridges, who would likely be in a Giannis trade. That's notable.
Bucks-Knicks-Blazers all have something the other teams desire
If Giannis Antetokounmpo does depart from Milwaukee this trade season, a scenario Fischer floated in his latest reporting, it's fair to think the Knicks might be the leading suitor. This past summer, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Bucks and Knicks had conversations about a deal that Giannis only wanted to play for New York if he left Milwaukee. Those talks would likely pick up again.
The reason those talks likely never got off the ground was that New York's offering in a two-team deal is far from desirable. Karl-Anthony Towns, a highly-protected first-round pick, some swaps, and a handful of second-rounders isn't getting it done. The Bucks aren't giving away their franchise star for pennies on the dollar. They need something of value to help jumpstart a rebuild.
Something like control of their own draft picks is far more enticing than anything New York can offer.
Unless they stumble upon gold, it's fair to say Milwaukee would take a step back after trading away its franchise icon. It might take time to build back up to contending status. Having draft picks during that period would certainly help and give the team more control over their future. Other teams can offer picks, but there's nothing like your own picks during an anticipated rough stretch (Look at NOLA).
Any deal may ultimately hinge on just how interested Portland is in Mikal Bridges. The Knicks better hope they are salivating over the thought of landing the two-way wing. If not, New York's odds of the Greek Freak coming to the Big Apple grow slimmer in an instant. In two-team frameworks, countless other teams have better trade packages than the Knicks.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.