Trade rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo have seen a dramatic rise in the last few hours following Shams Charania’s report on the superstar’s willingness to listen to trade offers. With many teams lining up to acquire the superstar, sources suggest that the New York Knicks also have a clear method of landing him.
In a recent report, DallasHoopsJournal.com’s Grant Afseth proposed an intriguing three-team trade scenario that could help bring Giannis Antetokounmpo over to the Knicks. He wrote:
“The Knicks are aware that Antetokounmpo wants to play for them and have had discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers about a Jrue Holiday trade, sources said. Antetokounmpo and Holiday played together in Milwaukee and remain close friends.”
“New York could trade Mikal Bridges to Portland to get Holiday and send Karl-Anthony Towns to Milwaukee to acquire Antetokounmpo, sources said. The Bucks would then trade Towns to acquire more draft capital, sources said.”
The notion of Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday joining the Knicks is interesting. While some reports suggested that New York could be interested in acquiring the two-time champion to boost their roster strength, it would appear that making this move to appeal to Antetokounmpo may also prove worthwhile.
While a trade scenario involving the Trail Blazers has been presented, an approach involving both Holiday and Antetokounmpo joining the Knicks seems more tempting. Keeping Afseth’s trade structure in mind, here’s what a potential trade proposal would look like:
Proposed Trade Details
New York Knicks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Mikal Bridges, Guerschon Yabusele
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Pacome Dadiet, 2026 first-round pick (NYK via WAS), 2028 first-round pick (POR via MIL)
Why Do The Knicks Do This Deal?
The inherent upside for the Knicks lies in pairing Jalen Brunson with elite defensive support and one of the most dominant forwards in the game. By acquiring Jrue Holiday, New York could boost its defensive integrity, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Knicks expand their overall offensive arsenal.
Although Holiday has struggled with consistency this season, primarily due to injuries, he remains one of the best two-way guards in the game. As an impact player for the Trail Blazers, in 20 appearances this season, the guard is averaging 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
For all intents and purposes, Holiday would effectively act as Mikal Bridges‘ replacement in the rotation. Although Bridges has been vital for the Knicks, given Holiday’s playmaking and championship experience, the Knicks may view this move favorably.
Meanwhile, acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo almost immediately boosts New York’s performance. As an elite contributor on both ends of the floor, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 0.9 steals per game this season, the Greek superstar compensates for Karl-Anthony Towns‘ defensive lapses while being capable of dominating on offense.
Why Do The Blazers Do This Trade?
For the Blazers, parting with Jrue Holiday, especially in light of Damian Lillard‘s imminent return next season, may not seem appropriate. But considering the team’s current standing (ninth in the West), along with the development of players such as Shaedon Sharpe, the Blazers may see more merit in bringing in fresh talent.
Though Bridges lacks Holiday’s playmaking, his reputation as an elite two-way player is undeniable. Despite experiencing a mild dip in production due to reduced playing time, the 29-year-old is averaging 15.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 39.2% from three-point range.
Along with Bridges, the Blazers would also acquire a solid frontcourt player in Guerschon Yabusele in this deal. While his time in New York hasn’t been noteworthy, Yabusele has asserted himself as a capable offensive threat and a reliable asset in the second unit.
This season, Yabusele is only averaging 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. But considering that he posted 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds during his one-year stint with the 76ers last season, there is some reason to believe that he could be productive in a different environment.
For the most part, this deal could be quite favorable for the Blazers. While it doesn’t necessarily transform them into a title-contending roster, it brings in the right pieces to make them a more competitive unit next season.
Why Do The Bucks Do This Deal?
The Bucks’ approach to this trade scenario would be largely reluctant, since parting with Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t in their interests. Still, considering how the situation has progressed, a trade seems inevitable.
Given the asking price for Giannis Antetokounmpo, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns, Pacome Dadiet, and two first-round picks could be sufficient, though Milwaukee may demand more draft compensation. With Towns becoming the new face of the franchise, the Bucks could see some merit in restructuring their roster around him.
Towns has been quite effective this season, averaging 20.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range. As one of the best shooting big men in the game, the five-time All-Star is bound to be a valuable addition on the offensive end.
Considering the Bucks already have a starting center in Myles Turner, adding Towns could effectively boost the team’s frontcourt, which would potentially feature a unique pairing of two floor-spacing bigs. With Ryan Rollins‘ development also becoming significant, the team’s foundation could be quite solid.
Pacome Dadiet may not have asserted himself as a solid rotation piece, but offseason reports suggested that the Knicks’ coaching staff was invested in him as a developmental piece. With notable athleticism and 3-and-D upside, the Bucks could see value in grooming him as an asset in the rotation.
The Knicks Should Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo
The New York Knicks are currently among the best teams in the Eastern Conference. With a 29-18 record, the Knicks are currently tied for second place with the Boston Celtics and are six games behind the Detroit Pistons in first place.
For the most part, the Knicks have been solid this season. Despite a rough patch earlier in the month, featuring a four-game losing streak, New York appears to have bounced back, posting four consecutive wins to erase their earlier mistakes.
As constructed, New York seems primed to contend for the title. Still, given the depth of competition in both conferences, the Knicks could benefit from making the necessary adjustments to boost their chances.
Towns’ defensive shortcomings were cited as a reason for the team’s postseason failures last year. Given that this aspect hasn’t been addressed, the Knicks remain vulnerable.
To address this, acquiring a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo could prove ideal, though this also comes with some risks. Giannis Antetokounmpo recently sustained a calf injury and is expected to remain sidelined.
With no concrete timeline for return, trading away valuable roster pieces for Antetokounmpo could prove detrimental to New York’s approach this season.
