As trade rumors intensify around Milwaukee Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the New York Knicks have emerged as a possible destination, linked to talks involving Portland Blazers’ Jrue Holiday. Approaching the February 5 NBA trade deadline, questions grow about whether the Knicks can realistically acquire Holiday and if they still have a chance to bring Giannis to Madison Square Garden.
NBA insider Marc Stein notes that for the Knicks to land Antetokounmpo, they would likely need the involvement of a third team to make the trade feasible.
Is there a multi-team deal that the Knicks could assemble with Portland — which controls Milwaukee’s drafts from 2028 to 2030 thanks to the original Lillard trade — to land Antetokounmpo (and maybe even Jrue Holiday as well) so they can furnish the Bucks with the sort of draft compensation that Milwaukee would be seeking? It’s been a popular discussion topic among various league insiders since the weekend,
Stein reports.
While the Knicks have been considered a potential landing spot for Giannis, some experts suggest the window to complete such a complex transaction may have already closed.
There are likewise some well-placed observers who wonder if the Knicks might have missed their window for acquiring Antetokounmpo … since a complicated multi-team trade is realistically their only pathway to a workable deal,
Stein added.
The Knicks don’t have a first-round pick of their own to trade as we speak and share Minnesota’s luxury tax apron complications, so they would undoubtedly be rooting for Milwaukee to take its time from here and wait until the offseason.
Challenges in Assembling a Trade for Giannis
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential move to the Knicks would be a blockbuster change for the franchise, which recently made its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. Bringing Giannis on board could bolster New York’s hopes of building on last season’s success during the 2025-26 campaign.
However, the Knicks would need to part with key players to match Milwaukee’s demands, including All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.
If the Bucks ultimately decide that they want to do this in the next week, that multi-team transaction New York needs would almost certainly require them to trade away Towns and either Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby in a matter of days,
Stein said.
Which would represent a dramatic on-the-fly restructuring of a roster that New York has painstakingly assembled.
Such a rapid overhaul would disrupt the current core of the Knicks’ team, which has been carefully built over recent seasons.
The Appeal of Madison Square Garden and Giannis’ Interest
One possible advantage the Knicks hold in pursuing Giannis is the allure of their home court, Madison Square Garden, known for its electrifying atmosphere and passionate fans. Giannis has previously shown interest in leading a franchise to an NBA championship, something the Knicks have not achieved in over 50 years.
Antetokounmpo has long been assumed to have a strong interest in playing at Madison Square Garden in front of the NBA’s most fervent fanbases and taking on the challenge, as he did as a Buck, of leading the franchise to its first championship after a wait of more than 50 years,
Stein adds.
Yet it’s unclear whether the Knicks and everything that comes with playing in Gotham appeals to him today in the same manner it was reputed to tempt Antetokounmpo in August.
Although Madison Square Garden is a significant draw, recent uncertainties linger about Giannis’ current level of interest in joining the Knicks.
With the February 5 trade deadline approaching, the Knicks face a limited timeframe to act if they want to reshape their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo or finalize moves involving Jrue Holiday. Beyond the deadline, the Bucks might prefer to revisit trade discussions during the offseason, especially given the complexity and financial implications for all teams involved.
