The Knicks got the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade news they’d been waiting for, but The Sporting News initially had two caveats. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
In recent days, prominent NBA reporters have discussed the possibility of the Portland Trail Blazers trading two-time NBA champion Jrue Holiday ahead of next Thursday’s trade deadline.
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The New York Knicks have shown interest in Holiday, according to Marc Stein , and Ian Begley reported on Tuesday that teams interested in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo — like the Knicks — believe they will have a better chance of trading 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. According to Henry Abbott of TrueHoop, the Knicks are on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s three preferred teams, along with the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.
So far, this all sounds good for the Knicks. But here are some caveats that could prevent a deal.
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One of them is Abbott’s own report. He said another source refuted the idea that Antetokounmpo is keeping a three-team roster. Although the Knicks held exclusive talks with the Bucks over the summer for the ten-time All-Star, the Knicks may no longer be Antetokounmpo’s preferred destination.
Another issue is Holiday’s contract, which expires next year and has a player option through 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 on the first floor, New York would have to give up a significant amount of Holiday’s salary in any trade. That could mean some combination of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Even if Antetokounmpo is eager to play elsewhere, traveling to New York and reuniting with Holiday will be a huge challenge now.