Knicks Made Jalen Brunson Off-Limits in Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks; Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Eager to Keep LeBron in L.A.
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NEW YORK — The New York Knicks held at least one substantive conversation with the Milwaukee Bucks in August about a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but guard Jalen Brunson was never placed on the table, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
The front office’s stance was straightforward: any pursuit of Antetokounmpo would be to pair the two-time MVP with Brunson, not replace him. Once Brunson was deemed untouchable, discussion reportedly shifted to other names, including Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson. No deal materialized.
Antetokounmpo, 29, has expressed doubt about Milwaukee’s championship ceiling, ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported, and listed New York as a franchise he would consider if he ever requested a move. The Bucks, however, showed no interest in trading the seven-time All-Star, who holds one guaranteed season after 2024-25 and a player option for 2027-28.
With Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges temporarily ineligible to be moved after signing his latest contract, New York’s exploratory talks never advanced beyond preliminary stages. While Antetokounmpo remains in Milwaukee, league observers expect the Knicks to monitor his situation closely throughout the season.
Lakers Notes
Out West, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports that Dallas guard Luka Doncic and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves both relish sharing the floor with LeBron James and hope to do so “as long as possible.” Neither player has pressed the 40-year-old superstar about his future, but sources told McMenamin they consider James “vital” to the Lakers’ short-term championship window.
Doncic, who began his NBA career alongside Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas, has seen a franchise icon navigate the twilight of a storied career before. Unlike Nowitzki’s final seasons, James remains a focal point despite dealing with a nerve issue—identified as sciatica—that will keep him sidelined at the start of the season. The condition dates back to late July or early August, per earlier reports.
The Lakers enter training camp intent on contending, and both Doncic and Reaves believe those aspirations hinge heavily on James’ continued presence.
Source: Hoops Wire
