Stephen A. Smith ready to trade these 2 players for Giannis Antetokounmpo if Knicks choke NBA Finals

If the New York Knicks lose the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN’s Stephen A Smith would be all in on seeing his favorite team pursue Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Although Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks to the franchise’s first Finals appearance in 27 years, Smith would be all in on splitting the All-Star tandem.

While it wouldn’t be an easy move to make, Smith says trading Towns in a deal to land Antetokounmpo is too enticing to pass up, he said, per the Stephen A Smith Show.

“Giannis is Giannis. I love KAT. Love Karl-Anthony Towns — love what I’m seeing from him. It would be hard for me to make that move. Mikal Bridges? I’d give him away,” Smith said. “I’m trying to hold onto Anunoby. I’m trying to hold onto KAT. I’m trying to hold onto Brunson.

“And I’d give up anything else you wanted if I can get Giannis. If I had to give up KAT and a Mikal Bridges for a Giannis, it would be incredibly difficult, but I would still have to say yes to a healthy Giannis because I know he’s giving me 30 and 10 a night.”

Stephen A. Smith says he would trade Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns to land a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Knicks lose the Finals. pic.twitter.com/DF4CzJAJQa

— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 10, 2026

While it’s still too early to think about the Knicks, who have a 2-1 lead, losing the Finals and making offseason blockbuster trades, Stephen A Smith’s brings up an interesting hypothetical move. The Bucks would most likely be hard-pressed to find a significantly better offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo than landing a perennial All-Star in Towns, who’s one of the best rebounders in the NBA alongside Bridges, an All-Defensive forward, who’s one of the better wing defenders in the association.

Jalen Brunson vows to stick together with Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns

Amidst Knicks All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns’ first Finals appearance, they led their team to a 2-0 lead. The Spurs pulled the series to 2-1 after winning Game 3.

After the loss, Brunson disccused his relationship with Towns, per Knicks on MSG’s X, formerly Twitter.

“He’s been a great teammate. He’s been a very great teammate. But most importantly, the person he is fantastic,” Brunson said. “Like, he’s a person who’s willing to do whatever to kind of help out whether he knows you well or not. That’s just who his character is. That’s just who he is and that translates on the court.

“And, I didn’t really know him as well as I did back then, but getting to know him now, It’s an unfair narrative of him, but I truly love that dude and everything he’s done for this team, this city, and as a friend he’s been fantastic.”

"I truly love that dude and everything he's done for this team, this city, and as a friend."

Jalen Brunson on his relationship with KAT pic.twitter.com/Z5Bra9ihbq

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) June 9, 2026

The Knicks will host the Spurs in Game 3 on Wednesday.

The post Stephen A. Smith ready to trade these 2 players for Giannis Antetokounmpo if Knicks choke NBA Finals appeared first on ClutchPoints.