The New York Knicks went from being one of the top teams in the league to suddenly becoming one of the NBA’s biggest question marks. Since the start of 2026, the Knicks have been one of the most inconsistent teams. Now, they are brought up in plenty of discussions ahead of the trade deadline.
NBA Insider Chris Haynes linked the Knicks to three different names on Tuesday night. He also gave New York a “45 percent chance of making a move” before the February deadline.
Who Are the Knicks Eyeing?
A new name hit the NBA rumor mill this week—Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday.
According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, the Knicks have kicked around the idea of pursuing the Blazers veteran. Holiday might be on a team that isn’t expected to compete for postseason action this year, but he remains one of the top two-way guards in the league. The Knicks would certainly benefit from his services.
If the cost of Holiday proves to be too steep for the Knicks, they could take it down a notch or two and consider Jose Alvarado or Keon Ellis.
The Sacramento Kings wing is on a team-friendly expiring deal. But he seems to have a handful of teams interested in his services, including the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since entering the NBA in 2022, Ellis has a little under 200 games under his belt. He became a full-time rotational player last season, averaging 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, while shooting 43 percent from three. This season, Ellis’ numbers are down, but he remains intriguing. The young veteran is posting averages of 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.
Lastly, the Knicks are reportedly interested in Alvarado, who is another player that brings solid two-way qualities. Although he’s undersized, Alvarado averages 1.0 steals per game. In addition, he’s scoring 7.9 points off the bench, while knocking down 36 percent of his threes on 4.4 attempts per game.
While the Knicks are typically linked to massive trade ideas—specifically ones for Giannis Antetokounmpo—that doesn’t seem to be realistic before the deadline. Therefore, these three names should be monitored as potential additions for the franchise.
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