If the New York Knicks are still interested in making a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, acquiring Jrue Holiday could help entice the Milwaukee Bucks star to play in the Big Apple.
Knicks Should Trade For Jrue Holiday First
Antetokounmpo, who has been linked to teams such as the Knicks and Miami Heat, is reportedly interested in playing with his former teammate on a contender, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
“Obviously they won a title together in Milwaukee,” Begley said. “And so, trading for Jrue makes you more enticing for Giannis, in terms of if he can try to finagle his way to a certain destination. You have Holiday, a guy he wants to play with, that probably moves you up on his list in terms of preferred destinations.”
"The idea would be that Giannis would enjoy playing with Jrue Holiday again"
Ian talks about Jrue Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and how the Knicks fit in to trade rumors surrounding the pair on The Putback with @IanBegley pic.twitter.com/vFkKdoUl3A
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 27, 2026
Holiday, 35, is currently in his first season with the Portland Trail Blazers and 17th NBA campaign. The 6-foot-4 guard was selected 17th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2009 draft out of UCLA.
Through 20 games (18 starts) with the Blazers this season, he’s averaging 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 28.4 minutes per outing while shooting 43.4% from the field and 35.4% from deep.
Besides his age, Holiday’s four-year, $135 million contract extension is a potential drawback.
Teams would have to match his $32.4 million contract this season in a trade. He’s also set to make $34.8 million next year and has a $37.2 million player option for 2027-28.
Bucks Waiting To Move Giannis?
The Knicks would have to retool their roster to accommodate the contracts of both Antetokounmpo and Holiday.
Per Spotrac, Giannis remains under contract through 2027-28, but he can become a free agent in the 2027 offseason if he declines his $62.8 million player option.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, starting on Oct. 1, 2026, Antetokounmpo will be eligible for a four-year, $275 million maximum extension through the 2030-31 season.
If moved, he’d be able to sign the same deal with another team six months after a trade.
In addition, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday that “multiple teams continue to try to engage the Bucks on a Giannis deal that they would like to consummate before the Feb. 5 deadline.”
Antetokounmpo would have several suitors if he were to give the Bucks the OK to trade him.
Despite that update, Stein also noted that there is “still no clear-cut indication that the Bucks are willing to entertain the prospect of an Antetokounmpo deal before draft time in the spring.”
ESPN’s Marc Spears believes Giannis has already played his last game for the Bucks.
