In recent days, prominent NBA reporters have discussed the possibility that the Portland Trail Blazers will deal two-time NBA champion Jrue Holiday before next Thursday’s trade deadline.
According to Marc Stein, the New York Knicks are showing interest in Holiday, while Ian Begley reported Tuesday that teams interested in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo — like the Knicks — believe they will have a better shot at trading for the two-time MVP if they can reunite him with Holiday.
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Antetokounmpo is weighing his options as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to struggle. TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott has said, per a source, that the Knicks are on Antetokounmpo’s three-team list of preferred destinations, alongside the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“One person told me that Giannis’s preferred list is three teams: the Heat, the Wolves, and the Knicks. Now, another person told me that is not his list, but would not tell me what his list is. So take it all with a grain of salt…. But yeah the talks are on. For sure. Like… pic.twitter.com/8SfBFfe7JL
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 28, 2026
So far, this all sounds pretty good for the Knicks. But there are caveats here that could prevent a deal.
One is Abbott’s own reporting. He said that another source contradicted the idea that there is a three-team list that Antetokounmpo is keeping. It is possible that the Knicks are no longer such a preferred destination for Antetokounmpo, though they held exclusive negotiations with the Bucks over the summer for the 10-time All-Star.
The other problem is Holiday’s contract, which runs through next year and has a player option for the 2027-28 season. Holiday’s $34.8 million salary next year would be the fourth-highest on the Knicks’ current roster, but as a team over the first apron, New York would have to dump a lot of salary in any deal that nets Holiday. That would likely mean some combination of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Even with Antetokounmpo’s desire to play elsewhere, getting to New York and reuniting with Holiday right now would be a big challenge.
