Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hall of Fame forward Carmelo Anthony will have plenty to chat about when they work out together. As a refresher, the Greek Freak expressed his desire to train with Melo this offseason, an offer that was promptly accepted. The two likely didn’t get to work out this offseason, especially as Antetokounmpo was out with a COVID diagnosis around that time. However, when they do, the former New York Knicks star might give him some advice that extends beyond the basketball court.
For starters, do not push for a trade when it might leave the team worse than before.
Why Giannis Antetokounmpo Needs Re-think Knicks Trade
Knicks fans remember the Melo saga all too well. In the summer of 2010, while the Miami Heat got their Big Three of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, the Knicks were left with just Amar’e Stoudemire. Rumors began, suggesting that Anthony might ask the Denver Nuggets for a trade to join the Knicks. That situation would eventually play out six months later.
Yet, while Anthony was a great player in New York, he failed to deliver a championship. One of the reasons is that the Knicks didn’t have a well-rounded team around him. Stoudemire got hurt, and though Jeremy Lin provided a spark for a while, they didn’t have a good team. Many years later, there’s a similar dilemma in the Garden. A player that is too good may be pushing to be a Knick.
What Can He Learn From Carmelo Anthony?
Most Knicks fans will admit that the team would have been much better if they had waited for six more months and gotten Melo in the summer. But Anthony was pushing too hard for a trade to New York, and Denver had leverage. As a result, the Knicks traded seven players to get the young All-Star, replacing them with six.
Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry were out. Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Corey Brewer were in. Following the swap, the Knicks were more newsworthy but they weren’t good enough to compete with The Heatles.
On The Other Hand…
Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, might have waited too long for a trade request. If he pushes too hard for a trade now, the Knicks might have to sacrifice two or three of their rotational players to get him. Doing any trade without giving up two of Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges is almost impossible. They might also have to throw in a young guy like Miles McBride, all because they lack draft picks to satisfy the Milwaukee Bucks.
If he truly wants to go to New York, Giannis could have made his wishes known last summer, when they were more than equipped to make a blockbuster trade. Losing Towns and Anunoby will significantly hurt the Knicks’ chances to compete, even with him and Jalen Brunson in the fold. Furthermore, without two of their best three-point shooters, Antetokoumpo won’t have a lot of space to operate.
Yet, if Antetokounmpo waits until the summer, his leverage goes up because he’ll only have one guaranteed year left on his contract. Then, the Knicks won’t have to give up as much to get him. Plus, they’ll have more 2030s draft picks that they can use for a trade.
The question is whether The Greek Freak will repeat Melo’s mistake, or learn from it? He missed an opportunity last summer, and an in-season trade might not be ideal.
The Knicks Rushed It As Well
The Knicks have been a patient team under guidance of general manager Leon Rose. Unlike years past, they’ve slowly and steadily built their team. However, they have made one or two trades in the last year that changed that perception.
The first was the Bridges trade, which was criticized even at the time because of the hefty price. New York gave up five first-round picks, all of which could have been used to get Antetokounmpo. The second was the KAT trade, which completely changed their payroll outlook. It also left them without a key young role player in 2021 NBA champion Donte DiVincenzo.
Looking back, arguments can be made for the Knicks. They were coming off a season in which they looked like the second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics. With half of their team hurt, they lost in the Conference Semifinals. If they were healthy, they could have challenged the Celtics, the eventual champion. With uncertainty about whether stars like Giannis will ever be on the market, the Knicks cashed in their chips and jumped in on the opportunity to get over the hump.
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