Knicks need to focus on core issues, not Giannis Antetokounmpo

ATLANTA — It’s way too early for second-guessing or even mutterings of alarms, but the next opponent provides an opportunity to explore an alternate universe as the Knicks stumble out of the gate at 3-4. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will visit MSG on Friday, is front and center in the Eastern Conference’s most combustible situation. The Bucks looked old and disappointing again with a six-game losing streak heading into their Thursday home contest versus the Jazz. Dame Lillard’s defense has devolved into latter-stage Kemba Walker since arriving in Milwaukee. Khris Middleton is frequently injured and still hasn’t played this season. 

Doc Rivers is their third coach in three seasons and, like his predecessor Adrian Griffin, without viable solutions for the East’s second-highest payroll. 

The circumstances have prompted many around the NBA to ask: “Will the Bucks trade their greatest player ever?” It certainly makes sense if the free fall continues, but the answer most often given is, “A deal like that doesn’t happen until the summer.” 

Antetokounmpo, at 29 and probably still the East’s best player, isn’t above putting pressure on the organization or exerting his influence. Sources said he pushed to install Griffin as coach, then wasn’t thrilled with Griffin before his abrupt firing last season. In summer 2023, Antetokounmpo told the New York Times he’d be unsatisfied and leave the Bucks without another championship. Within two months of that interview, Milwaukee traded for Lillard and Antetokounmpo signed an extension. 

It’s the classic NBA superstar playbook, and it sometimes ends with a relocation — especially if it’s James Harden. Signing the extension removed significant leverage from Antetokounmpo, but there comes a point when separation benefits both parties. 

Which brings the conversation to the Knicks. 

According to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, they’ve been viewed as a credible suitor for the Greek Freak — at least they were before acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns — along with the Warriors, Nets and Heat. 

The insurmountable obstacle now for the Knicks is they already unloaded the most valuable assets, minus Jalen Brunson, to acquire Towns, OG Anunoby and especially Mikal Bridges. 

As a result, a source declared the Knicks’ chances of dealing for Antetokounmpo as “very unlikely.” Their offer would get blown away by the competition. 

Can you imagine the package the Thunder, if they were inclined, could put together? Or the Rockets? Or Spurs? 

The Knicks, of course, had stockpiled their young players and draft assets for years before completing three blockbusters between December and September. And even though Leon Rose hasn’t spoken to the independent media in over three years, the team president’s thought process was easy to understand. 

He threw in his chips and gambled on Jalen Brunson, doubling down on the belief a small guard can indeed lead a team into the NBA Finals. Rose sacrificed a combined six first-round picks and a huge chunk of New York’s young talent for pieces complementary to Brunson, acquiring teammates who play defense or space the floor and don’t need the ball in their hands because it belongs in the point guard’s. 

Now, they have to make it work. And the beginning has been rocky. Any idea the Knicks could dominate immediately like the 2007 Celtics was dashed in the opening 16 days, which ended Wednesday with a 3-4 record after consecutive defeats defined by stagnant offense and a soft paint presence. 

Brunson has struggled. Towns demonstrated his scoring prowess, but the Knicks haven’t rediscovered their offensive rebounding or rim-protecting identity with him at center. Chemistry and ball movement are visibly lacking. 

Bridges has disappeared playing off the ball and is averaging just 2.6 points in fourth quarters, with the Knicks getting outscored by 29 in his 52 total minutes of the final period. 

“I think we’re still figuring it out,” Bridges said, redirecting a question about his own comfort level to an answer about the entire team. “Offensively, defensively, we still got to figure it out. Like I said, it’s early. So we just need more time. And we’ll figure it out.” 

The Knicks banked a lot on Bridges being correct and their moves made sense beyond the empowerment of Brunson. There was an expiration date on a strategy built around holding assets for the potential of a disgruntled superstar demanding a trade. The Knicks executed the trades to maximize a window. After all, Antetokounmpo could just as easily retire a Buck as hit the trade market in the near future. 

It’s less of the Knicks’ concern nowadays. They have to get their own house in order and find a way to beat Antetokounmpo, not trade for him.