NBA exec: Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t going anywhere this summer

The Knicks had been among the teams linked to a potential trade for Antetokounmpo — with New Jersey native Karl-Anthony Towns often mentioned as the centerpiece — but league executives said the Knicks simply don’t have the assets for such a blockbuster. “The Knicks cannot get Giannis,” the NBA executive said. “They don’t have enough assets.” -via Newark Star-Ledger / June 11, 2025

Every time I check in with someone in the organization, I keep getting told, yes, they’re going to convene. They’re going to have kind of a ‘come-to-Jesus’ moment with Giannis and the front office. The front office is going to have their pitch to Giannis to sell him on the idea of staying long term. Most people I’ve talked to believe the sales pitch will be: hey, a gap year next year, where you just claw your way maybe to .500. And then, when you get to the summer of 2026, you’ve got some flexibility in terms of your payroll, you’ve got some flexibility in terms of draft picks you can deal. That’s when they can make their move again. I think there are people in Milwaukee who believe that they’ve earned enough equity with Giannis—given what they’ve done over the last six years—to at least get him to listen and to consider it. So look, if Giannis says to them, ‘Okay, I’ll buy in, but we’ve got to bring back Brook Lopez on XYZ,’ I think there’s a lot of fluidity to what they could do next.” -via YouTube / June 11, 2025

But amid growing speculation that Antetokounmpo could leave Milwaukee in the near future, Thomas didn’t shy away from voicing his own opinion. “It’s time to leave. He’s given that city and organization a championship, two MVPs. I think he’s going to try to get up out of there,” Thomas said. “Go to a big market—maybe New York or something.” Still, he left room for uncertainty. “But you never know. He might stay.” -via BasketNews / June 11, 2025