Knicks
The Knicks had at least one real conversation about Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, but there was never any chance Jalen Brunson would be part of the deal.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, New York made Brunson “untouchable” when trade discussions with the Bucks took place in August. The logic was simple. Basically, if the Knicks were ever to chase Antetokounmpo, it would be to pair him with Brunson, not replace him.
With Mikal Bridges temporarily ineligible to be traded after his new deal, the conversation reportedly shifted toward names like Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson. But talks never advanced.
ESPN’s Shams Charania had previously reported that Giannis had expressed uncertainty about Milwaukee’s title ceiling and listed the Knicks as the one team he’d consider if he ever moved on. Still, the Bucks didn’t blink. They instead made it clear they had no interest in dealing their two-time MVP.
Amick characterized the exchange as “not nothing,” calling it an escalation that signals Antetokounmpo may be at least open to exploring life outside Milwaukee if things don’t go as planned this season. He has one guaranteed year left after this one and a player option for 2027-28.
For now, he’s still a Buck. But this won’t be the last time his name and New York’s appear in the same sentence.
Lakers
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports that Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have made one thing clear. Specifically, they love playing with LeBron James and want to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Neither has pressed LeBron about his future, out of respect for the four-time MVP, but both view him as essential to the Lakers’ short-term title window.
“Vital,” as one source put it to McMenamin.
Doncic has seen this movie before, playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki during the twilight of his Hall of Fame career in Dallas. The difference is that Nowitzki was winding down; LeBron remains a central figure at age 40, even as he battles a nerve issue that will sideline him to start the season.
As we relayed earlier, that sciatica dates back to late July or early August.
Thunder
The Thunder have been granted a disabled player exception following the season-ending knee injury to rookie Thomas Sorber, per Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
Sorber, the 15th overall pick in June’s draft, tore his ACL during a workout last month –marking the second straight year a Thunder first-rounder will miss his rookie season after Nikola Topic sat out 2024–25 with the same injury.
The exception gives Oklahoma City some added cap flexibility, though not an extra roster spot. It’s valued at $2.33 million, half of Sorber’s salary and well below the standard mid-level exception. The team can use it to trade for or sign a player on an expiring deal, but most such exceptions go unused.
Still, the Thunder could find a use later in the season, perhaps for a low-cost trade piece or a rest-of-season signing that exceeds the veteran minimum.
For now, the injury is another setback for a team that otherwise enters the year looking every bit like a dynasty-in-the-making.
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