Proposed multi-team NBA trade sends $175 million star to Knicks, Kentucky legend Karl-Anthony Towns to Heat originally appeared on The Sporting News
The New York Knicks got to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time this century during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. By not getting over the top and head coach Tom Thibodeau being fired, though, the roster is closer to implosion than being locked in place.
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That doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Not if the Knicks can land a generational superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey came up with a massive five-team blockbuster trade that’d send the “Greek Freak” to the Big Apple, Karl-Anthony Towns to the Miami Heat, Lauri Markkanen to the San Antonio Spurs, and a package of Keldon Johnson, Bobby Portis, Jeremy Sochan, Tyler Kolek, a 2029 first-round pick from San Antonio, and a 2031 first-round pick from San Antonio to the Utah Jazz.
As for the Milwaukee Bucks, their return haul for Antetokounmpo is massive:
Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Harrison Barnes, a 2026 first-round pick from New York (via Washington), a 2030 first-round pick from Miami, a 2030 first-round pick swap from New York, a 2032 first-round pick swap from New York, a 2032 first-round pick from Miami, a top-50 protected 2031 second-round pick from Utah, and three second-round picks from New York.
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Who says no?
Probably the Spurs.
Two first-round picks, Sochan, and Johnson, are a drastic overpay for Markkanen at this stage. At an AAV of around $50 million, Markkanen’s inefficiency makes him a bad contract. Not one to give up this much for.
San Antonio would be better off staying the course. Every other team would benefit from this trade, though – of course, in Milwaukee’s case, only if they have no other choice but to trade Antetokounmpo.
That depends on how upset he is with the team stretching and waiving Damian Lillard’s contract to sign Myles Turner in free agency.