Jaw-dropping five-team trade idea may be the only way Knicks can land Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leading up to the NBA trade deadline, there's no other hotter name out there than Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Multiple teams are reportedly in the mix, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and Golden State Warriors. One team that's been linked to the two-time MVP since the summer, though, is the New York Knicks.

The Knicks don't seem very likely to make a move for Antetokounmpo, considering their lack of draft capital. But one trade idea proposed by CBS Sports' Sam Quinn may be the only way New York lands the Greek Freak.

Five-team Knicks trade idea nets Giannis Antetokounmpo

"The Knicks, with very little draft capital available, are going to have to shop their incumbent players to create the picks the Bucks are going to need to consider a deadline deal," wrote Quinn.

"In a perfect world, they'd trade Karl-Anthony Towns and one of their wings to get that value. Just one problem: there doesn't appear to be much interest in Towns, now 30 and with two years left on his supermax deal."

Unfortunately for the Knicks, that means they'll have to part with their beloved wings and promising second-year guard Tyler Kolek.

San Antonio Spurs receive: OG Anunoby

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Mikal Bridges, Jeremy Sochan

Brooklyn Nets receive: 2030 first-round swap rights (via Knicks)

Bucks receive: Jerami Grant, Harrison Barnes, Guerschon Yabusele, Tyler Kolek, seven first-round picks

The cost to land Antetokounmpo is just too much for the Knicks right now, a team with championship aspirations in a weak Eastern Conference.

Shaking up the core of the team now feels desperate, and the fact of the matter is, New York is good enough as constructed to contend for at least a spot in the NBA Finals.

If they have a massive playoff collapse, they can revisit the Giannis conversations next offseason. But for now, they're likely better off staying the course at least until the summer.

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