Overview
- Recent reports frame a binary path for Antetokounmpo in 2026, either signing an extension with Milwaukee or being traded, with a 2027-28 player option that could lead to 2027 free agency.
- The Bucks and Knicks held talks in August about a potential deal, but multiple reports say the discussions did not gain traction.
- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said the Knicks were positioned to land Antetokounmpo under certain circumstances, aligning with Shams Charania’s reporting that New York was his only preferred destination outside Milwaukee.
- Cap math is a major obstacle for New York, as Antetokounmpo’s $54.1 million 2025-26 salary and the Knicks’ hard cap make even a one-for-one framework with Karl-Anthony Towns at $53.1 million unworkable.
- A source close to Antetokounmpo emphasized keeping pressure on ownership, while a Bucks team source described a gap between outside perceptions and the organization’s internal alignment.