Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extension quashes unlikely Knicks dream


You can forget about that unlikely dream of the Knicks landing The Greek Freak.

After all the talk this summer by Giannis Antetokounmpo of possibly holding off on signing an extension, he inked a three-year, $186 million deal with the Bucks on Monday, ESPN reported.

The deal included a third-year player option.

Antetokounmpo, 28, was initially set to hit the open market in the summer of 2025 if he declined his player option, but after the Bucks pulled off the blockbuster Damian Lillard deal, Antetokounmpo had a change of heart.

And, so, the Knicks will have to look elsewhere for the game-changing superstar to pair with Jalen Brunson.

They have been monitoring Karl-Anthony Towns of the Timberwolves, Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers and Joel Embiid of the 76ers, The Post’s Stefan Bondy previously reported.


Giannis Antetokounmpo signed an extension Monday to remain with the Bucks.
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Mitchell, a 27-year-old Elmsford, N.Y. native, is set to be a free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines his player option and has said he wouldn’t sign an extension prior to this season.

The Knicks tried to trade for him two offseasons ago, but the Jazz wound up sending Mitchell to Cleveland instead.

Embiid, the reigning MVP, has three years left on his deal, although the situation in Philadelphia with a disgruntled James Harden wanting out and skipping most of training camp warrants monitoring.


Leon Rose and the Knicks will need to pursue a different superstar after Giannis Antetokounmpo secured an extension with the Bucks.
Leon Rose and the Knicks will need to pursue a different superstar after Giannis Antetokounmpo secured an extension with the Bucks.
AP

Then there is Towns, a New Jersey native who was once represented by team president Leon Rose.

His name has been involved in trade rumors for quite some time.



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