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The Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes is heating up, and the perceived frontrunner might have just taken a major hit to their chances of landing the multi-time MVP.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported today that the New York Knicks will not have exclusivity in the upcoming trade talks for the Greek superstar.
The Knicks, who are considered Antetokounmpo’s top choice to be traded to, have long been seen as the ultimate landing spot for one of the league’s best players. During the offseason, multiple reports indicated that if Antetokounmpo was going to be traded, his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, would facilitate his relocation to the home of his choosing.
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As the season has gone on, the Bucks’ year has turned into a disaster. Antetokounmpo has visibly looked frustrated with his teammates and the team around him as Milwaukee has flopped to a 10-15 record in a soft Eastern Conference.
Antetokounmpo, who is currently out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain, has played up to his MVP-level self even in a down year for the Bucks. He is averaging 28.9 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game on a team with little to no help around him.
The nixing of the Knicks’ exclusivity opens the door for every team in the league to bid for one of the NBA’s faces of the past decade, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and even the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.