Knicks News: Team Scouted Giannis Before 2013 NBA Draft Despite Agent's Claims

Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's Greek agent, Giorgos Panou, said in the Finding Giannis documentary that the New York Knicks were the only team to not scout his client in Greece prior to the 2013 NBA draft:

However, the Knicks have claimed otherwise, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com:

The Bucks took Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in 2013. The Knicks would have needed to trade up to get the 2019 All-Star team captain, as their first-round selection was 24th that year.

Therefore, the issue is largely moot unless the Knicks were so enamored by Antetokounmpo that they were willing to give Milwaukee an offer it couldn't refuse to move up nine spots.

Ultimately, if the Knicks did, in fact, fail to scout Antetokounmpo, it may not even make a top-50 list of the team's biggest mistakes since 2000.

If anything, this possible oversight is small potatoes compared to the litany of issues the team has faced since the end of the Patrick Ewing era.

The front office has made damaging decisions over the years, ranging from a habitual discarding of first-round picks, overpaying for free agents and failing to establish a clear direction for the franchise.

On- and off-court drama has played out in the New York tabloids as the team has ridden on executive and head-coaching carousels.

As bad as the 10-win Knicks are now though, they at least have a direction, with the team in clear rebuilding mode as they look forward to a mountain of cap space and all of their first-round picks in their possession.