The New York Knicks (29-18) haven’t been as impressive since winning the Emirates NBA Cup. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and while they are currently tied with the Boston Celtics for the second seed in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors (29-20) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (29-20) are just one game behind them.
With the Knicks underwhelming lately, there have been plenty of rumblings swirling around the team. With the help of PrizePicks Team Picks, let's highlight those Knicks trade rumors and discuss two potential mock trades ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
The latest Knicks mocks include a blockbuster for Milwaukee Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo and a possibility involving C Karl-Anthony Towns.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Milwaukee Bucks Trade Rumors, Mock Scenario: Giannis Antetokounmpo to Knicks?
Shams Charania of ESPN reported Wednesday that Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home. The Bucks are listening to trade offers already, although there is a chance that the team could hold him through the deadline and move him when they have more time to ponder offers in the offseason.
Giannis is currently out with a calf injury, but the expectation is that he will be back well before the playoffs. That means plenty of the top teams in the league should be lining up for his services.
One franchise that figures to be front and center is the Knicks. Charania confirmed that New York is among the serious suitors for Antetokounmpo. Let’s see what it might take for the Knicks to land the superstar big man.
Knicks Receive
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo
- F Kyle Kuzma
- F Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Bucks Receive
- C Karl-Anthony Towns
- F OG Anunoby
- G Miles McBride
- 2030 first-round pick swap
- 2032 first-round pick swap
The Knicks don’t have first-round picks available to trade because they already moved them in previous deals. These pick swaps would be appealing because the Knicks, a win-now team, could be bad by the time they convey. The Bucks also get out of Kuzma’s contract here, which has another year left at $20.3 million.
Milwaukee would likely be a rebuilding team without Antetokounmpo. If they were to make this trade, they could look to ship Towns and Anunoby out quickly for future draft picks. However, that'd put a lot of pressure on them to make more deals as the deadline rapidly approaches.
If the Bucks and Knicks made such a seismic swap, they might need to involve a third team. That squad could take on Towns and/or Anunoby, then give first-rounders to Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Payouts
Here are payouts for Giannis Antetokounmpo to be traded before the NBA trade deadline, via PrizePicks Team Picks — where you can make trade predictions and earn money if you're right.
- Yes: 1.75x ($100 pays out $175)
- No: 2.0x ($100 pays out $200)
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
New York Knicks Trade Rumors, Mock Scenario: Karl-Anthony Towns to Magic?
Towns has been in other trade rumors that don’t involve the Bucks. He's shooting a career-low 46.2% from the field, and his 36.1% mark from behind the arc is the worst since his rookie campaign. He’s also not much of a defensive presence in the middle, so if he’s not scoring efficiently, he complicates matters for the Knicks.
In previous trade rumors, Towns was mentioned as a possible trade target for the Magic. What might that deal look like?
Knicks Receive
- G Jalen Suggs
- C Wendell Carter Jr.
- F Tristan da Silva
Magic Receive
- C Karl-Anthony Towns
The Magic would get a huge upgrade at center in this deal. Adding Towns to a core that includes F Paolo Banchero, F Franz Wagner, and G Desmond Bane could make them very dangerous. Losing Suggs would be significant, but with him injured so often, G Anthony Black has emerged by averaging 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Suggs could give the Knicks a stellar defensive trio of him, Anunoby, and G-F Mikal Bridges. Either Carter or C Mitchell Robinson could start at the five. Given Robinson’s injury history, adding someone like Carter in any Towns deal may be key.
While there are no draft picks included in this trade, the 24-year-old da Silva is an intriguing young forward who is shooting 37.7% from behind the arc. He also averages 0.9 steals despite only playing 23 minutes a night.
Karl-Anthony Towns Trade Payouts
Here are payouts for Karl-Anthony Towns to be traded before the NBA trade deadline, via PrizePicks Team Picks — where you can make trade predictions and earn money if you're right.
- Yes: 2.0x ($100 pays out $200)
- No: 1.29x ($100 pays out $129)
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
Make NBA Futures Picks on PrizePicks
The Knicks might need to make one final significant addition to get them over the hump and win an NBA title. The player they need very well could be Giannis Antetokounmpo. The problem is they might need a third team's help to acquire him.
There’s still time to make your NBA trade candidate picks with futures on PrizePicks Team Picks. Just go to the PrizePicks app, open Team Picks, pick the player you think will or won’t be traded, and earn cash if you're right.
Keep it here with the Playbook for continued NBA picks, predictions, futures, and more as the season moves along.
