Even though a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade feels close, there may be a chance that nothing is finalized until the New York Knicks officially are out of the running. That may be ultimately why a deal hasn't been agreed to yet, and that could be devastating to hear for Miami Heat fans.
That's because way back when all this Giannis noise started, it was the Knicks that were considered his preferred landing spot by a mile.
While that may be far from a certainty at this point, NBA insider Chris Haynes does seem to give that impression. In his words, "if the Knicks were to falter to the Spurs, they might be in play for Giannis."
Giannis could be waiting on a firm "no" from the Knicks
At least to a certain extent, it would make sense for Giannis to ask the Milwaukee Bucks to hold off on a trade until it's a certainty that the Knicks wouldn't be interested. That means waiting to see how the NBA Finals play out.
With a 2-0 series lead, it's unlikely for the Knicks to jump in aggressively into the Giannis chase, especially if they end up winning the NBA Championship, but we've seen stranger things. And as frustrating as the waiting may be for the Heat, it's not that surprising for this to be Giannis' preference.
If the Knicks were indeed Giannis' preferred landing spot, it's only fair to wait. Giannis has made it this far. What is another week or two?
But, especially for a team like the Heat, that is a dangerous game of chance.
Because if there's even a small chance that the Knicks would be interested in aggressively joining the pursuit of Giannis, it gives them another legit threat that they'll have to bid against.
The Knicks could make life complicated for the Heat
While the Heat already have their hands full against the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics as they look for an exit ramp on the Giannis pursuit, the Knicks would certainly make life that much more difficult for them.
There's no guarantee that New York would be willing to break up their core; if they were, they'd immediately emerge as a heavy favorite for Giannis. Especially considering they're a team he clearly would want to play for.
At this point, the only saving grace for the Heat on this front is the fact that the Knicks are up 2-0 in the NBA Finals against the Spurs. Theoretically speaking, they should win the championship. If they do, it's hard to envision New York breaking up their core.
Additionally, it would almost be equally surprising to see Giannis welcome a trade to a defending champion.
There's still much that needs to be played out on the Giannis front, but there's at least a small chance that the Bucks could be waiting to see what happens with New York. If that is indeed the case, that's not exactly what you'd want to hear if you're a Heat fan.
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