After the home town of New York Knicks lost in the conference final, Stephen A. Smith issued an stance on the Giannis Antetocomo trade.
The New York Knicks lost the Indiana Pacers’ Eastern Conference Finals and soon began speculation that they would revive the roster.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetocomo is the biggest name of NBA trade rumors that surpass Kevin Durant. Antetokounmpo is the type of player the Knicks can pair with Jalen Brunson for the Knicks to return to the finals in 26 years.
Longtime Knicks fan and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has issued a verdict on Giannis’ Knicks deal.
Unlike teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Brooklynnet, the Knicks don’t have the draft capital or young talent to add Giannis, but they can easily match his salary.
In Antetokounmpo’s hypothetical agreement, the Knicks certainly had to say goodbye to the town of Karl Anthony to balance the book, but Smith simply summed up the choice.
“If I had to give up on the town of Karl Anthony to get Giannis, I wouldn’t hesitate. I wouldn’t hesitate,” he repeated. “A man can give you 30 and 12 30 nights. If you have the opportunity to get Giannis Antetocompo, I don’t mind the person you have to give up to get him. You do that.
“The talent, ferociousness that comes with the Giannis Antetocompo outside of Jalen Branson is easy to touch at this point, does what you have to do to get Giannis.”
The pairing of high-level starters that Brunson, Antetokounmpo and the Knicks can continue trading will ultimately become title favourites.
The fit of the Greek freak in New York is quickly apparent to ignore the near-imposable Knicks’ ability to outweigh other suitors due to Antetocompo.
Assuming the town is the majority of the matching paychecks in the deal, the Knicks will have Branson and Antetocomo as the main scoring options played by Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges on the wings.
The Knicks have one of the most mobile crime and versatile defenses, making Mitchell Robinson a great bench player.
For now, Branson will need to start and finish the game as the Knicks’ primary ball handler and scorer, but Antetokounmpo puts a lot of strain on the shoulders, especially early in the game.
In the postseason, having one of the best two-way players will be a major upgrade to the town. If the Knicks can do that, Smith is right. It’s not worth thinking twice.