THE New York Knicks dominated the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday as the 2021 NBA champions continue their free fall after being atop the Eastern Conference. The Knicks’ win over the Bucks puts Milwaukee at a stunning 2-7 record to start the season, which has sparked discussions about whether or not this team should start trading away some of their core pieces.

Could Giannis Antetokounmpo be about to leave Milwaukee?

Superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been at the forefront of these trade rumors. He expressed genuine frustration with the team’s recent play following their 116-94 loss to the Knicks on Friday.

“Did we compete today?” No. …If you don’t fight hard, you’re not going to win the game,” Antetokounmpo said (h/t ESPN’s Chris Herring). “(You have to) at least give yourself a chance.

“We came to New York after playing well last night. Then we get here and lose by 30. Are you OK not to compete? I don’t agree with that. »

Antetokounmpo was also seen talking in the direction of another potential Bucks teammate and stunningly said “If you don’t want to be here, you can leave.” It’s unclear who the attacker was speaking to, but it’s clear tensions are at an all-time high in the Bucks locker room, which could be the beginning of the end for the dominant franchise.

The Knicks could play a big role if Antetokounmpo becomes available

The Knicks have been one of the teams widely rumored to be candidates to land Antetokounmpo if he is traded out of Milwaukee. New York made sweeping changes to its roster this summer by completing two blockbuster trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.

These changes made the Knicks real title contenders, but it also made them a very expensive team. Antetokounmpo is playing under a five-year, $228 million contract with a three-year, $175 million extension that kicks in after this season. His estimated cap hit for the 2025-26 season is over $54 million, per Spotrac.

Therefore, if the Knicks wanted to trade for the superstar forward, they would have to give up several key assets to make the money fit. That could include moving OG Anunoby, who signed a five-year, $212 million contract with New York this offseason, or Bridges before he has to extend his own extension.

The Bridges and Towns acquisition deals depleted much of the Knicks’ depth. Injuries have also played a part in this, but it’s clear that the bench is a major weakness for them while the starting five is their strength. Plus, there may be no need for the Knicks to go all-in to acquire the superstar from the Bucks.

Knicks don’t need to go all-in on Antetokounmpo

The Knicks have the star talent to win a championship right now. They have shown the ability to dominate teams when all their pieces are clicking. All five starters have scored in double figures in a franchise-record seven straight games, and their average margin of victory is 21.4 points so far this season.

Of course, bringing in Antetokounmpo would give the Knicks arguably the most imposing Big 3 in the NBA, a trio that can easily lead to more championships. However, this is a very risky decision given recent circumstances. The Bucks have continually canceled the playoffs since their 2021 championship, and Antetokounmpo missed last year’s playoffs due to injury, which is a big part of why they were beaten in the first round last year .

There is no indication that the Knicks are actively discussing Antetokounmpo’s availability on the trade market. New York will almost certainly weigh in on what they would have to trade to acquire him, but it’s a move that isn’t necessary given their team’s already status.