In the wake of fresh uncertainty around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee, Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and his representation have begun substantive conversations with the Bucks about whether his best fit is staying or moving elsewhere, with a resolution expected in the coming weeks that could shape his availability before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Charania added that if talks move toward a trade, interested teams would extend “well beyond just the Knicks,” widening a landscape that had previously been framed around New York’s pursuit.
Giannis is open to playing for teams other than the Knicks
“It’s going to be well beyond just the Knicks from my understanding”
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 3, 2025
Charania’s update reframes the summer dynamic, when the Knicks were involved in discussions with Milwaukee under an “exclusive negotiating window” that ultimately did not produce a deal. While New York emerged as a preferred destination during that period, Charania now characterizes the potential suitor pool as broader if a move is explored in-season, an indication that league-wide interest and fit assessments have intensified as Milwaukee’s early struggles persist.
Antetokounmpo met with Bucks leadership after scrubbing most team references from his social media. Those discussions, according to Charania’s reporting, are aimed at determining whether to proceed together or part ways, with timing aligned to the trade calendar opening up across the league. A decision in the coming weeks could lead to his availability ahead of the deadline, turning a slow start into a franchise-defining fork in the road.
New York’s case has centered on star pairing possibilities and market appeal, but Charania’s “well beyond” phrasing reflects how multiple contenders could credibly offer a championship runway by surrounding Antetokounmpo with shooting, secondary creation, and rim-protection redundancies. Teams prioritizing elite transition offense and paint pressure, with the roster balance to accommodate Antetokounmpo’s usage and defensive quarterbacking, form the natural cohort of suitors once the conversation moves past New York’s summer overtures.
Prediction markets have continued to price New York as the most likely destination at various points this week, which aligns with the off-season context and the perception of fit with the Knicks’ assets and roster needs. That framing, however, sits alongside Charania’s clear caveat: should a trade path emerge, the field will expand, and New York’s position would be tested by packages and timelines from other bidders.
The New York Knicks are the favorites to land Giannis Antetokounmpo if he gets traded, per @Polymarket pic.twitter.com/FySUG3h2cP
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 4, 2025
All eyes are on the outcome of Milwaukee’s internal conversations with Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis. The expected decision window, ‘weeks, not months’, creates a compressed, high-stakes environment where clarity on intent will immediately reshape the market, dictate whether offers move from exploratory to substantive, and determine if the Knicks’ perceived edge holds once a broader field engages.
