Knicks, Heat expected suitors of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks

If Giannis Antetokounmpo truly becomes available, expect the Heat and Knicks to be at the front of the line.

Both teams are widely viewed around the league as motivated suitors if Milwaukee opens a real bidding process. And while Giannis has publicly said he will “never” ask for a trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports he and the Bucks have had “honest and open conversations” about the future, with Antetokounmpo privately signaling for months that it may be time to move on.

New York has been circling this possibility for a while.

The Knicks spoke to Milwaukee last offseason after Antetokounmpo identified New York as a preferred destination, according to prior reporting, and Ian Begley of SNY.tv says the Knicks are expected to pursue him aggressively now that the Bucks appear more open to listening.

Miami is in the mix as well. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports the Heat plan to chase Antetokounmpo, echoing Marc Stein’s recent note about a “vibe of confidence” around Miami’s pursuit.

The complication for both teams is ammunition.

Neither New York nor Miami is flush with premium draft capital right now, which could limit their ability to meet Milwaukee’s expected asking price. The Knicks currently lack tradable first-round picks, while the Heat are restricted to two because of Stepien rule constraints tied to a protected 2027 selection.

As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron noted, both franchises would be better positioned in the offseason, when their pick flexibility improves.