The New York Knicks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, going 7-2 in December, which includes pressure-cooker victories in the NBA Cup semifinal and final. As such, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins feels the Knicks would be making a huge blunder by pursuing a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade amid rumors that the two-time MVP wants out of the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I wouldn’t touch that s–t if I’m the Knicks,” Perkins told “The Road Trippin’ Show” of a potential Giannis to Knicks trade, via NBA Analysis.
“I wouldn’t touch Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t touch him for the simple fact that one, you’re going to have to give up two or three major pieces, right?
“So then you’re going to be concerned with depth,” he continued, “I don’t know. I’m pretty sure they’ll figure it out between like him and Jalen Brunson, how that two-man game or how they will work because both of those guys are still ball-dominant.”
Giannis to Knicks Buzz
In particular, Pekins feels the Knicks would be erring by moving two-way star OG Anunoby, who is arguably the NBA’s premium 3-and-D player this season. Through 17 games, Anunoby has made 2.5 threes per game at a career-high clip of 40%, while also locking up the opposition’s best scorer on a nightly basis. The ninth-year wing was so crucial in the Knicks’ NBA Cup victory that he earned an NBA Cup Finals MVP vote from one media member, before the award went to teammate Jalen Brunson.
“So, would you throw OG Anunoby in that trade? F*** no,” Perkins said. “You’re talking about something that you need, a guy, a three-and-D guy, Mikal Bridges?
“Like, no, you need those pieces. Now, would it probably involve Karl-Anthony Towns? I believe so. I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t do it if I’m the Knicks. I would stay just the way I am and let them boys go rock out.”
Giannis Trade Speculation
The Knicks remain the betting favorites to pull off a Giannis trade after reports surfaced this offseason that they had an “exclusive negotiating window” to acquire the 2021 NBA Finals MVP after he expressed his desire to play in New York.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier this month that the Knicks “had their shot” at acquiring Antetokounmpo before his trade request became public. The Leon Rose-led front office was reportedly hesitant to go all-in for the 31-year-old star, as they believed the Bucks were never really serious about moving their longtime franchise star.
Perkins believes the Knicks obviously got cold feet as they didn’t want to disrupt their chemistry after Brunson and Co. led them to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, which marked their deepest playoff run in the 21st century.
“So, like, would you leverage something that you already got trying to be greedy and taking that chance?” he asked. “I think if the Knicks actually wanted Giannis, it would have got done when he first requests, reports came out when he requested that he wanted to be traded to the Knicks.”
Teams such as the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets — who are flush with draft assets — are also no longer that keen on pursuing a Giannis trade, per several insiders, as they prefer building title contenders with their highly acclaimed young cores.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Knicks Urged to Avoid Giannis Trade by NBA Champion: ‘I Wouldn’t Touch That’ appeared first on Heavy Sports.