Source: https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/monday-night-confidential-lots-more?r=nuq3a&utm\\\\\\\_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay

A belief persists among some rival teams that Towns is in play to some degree. Or that the Knicks, at the very least, have tried to get a sense of what his market would be.

Now would the Knicks, when it actually comes down to it, be willing to surrender Towns in any trade that doesn't involving acquiring Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo? Would James Dolan and Leon Rose (Towns' former agent) really sanction any drastic in-season shakeup and possibly make their team smaller by parting with Towns mid-stream?

Another concept that keeps coming up: Rumbles that the Knicks have explored pathways to try to acquire Portland's Jrue Holiday.

There are at least two clear reasons why New York would have interest in a player who helped both Milwaukee and Boston win championships this decade: 1) The presumption that acquiring Holiday — if there's a way — would make the Knicks an even more attractive destination to Holiday's former Bucks teammate Antetokounmpo; 2) New York is believed to hold a longstanding fondness for Holiday as a potential backcourt complement to Jalen Brunson.

33 comments

  1. Jrue would be perfect next to Brunson but what are we giving up that Portland actually wants? They’re not taking Mitch and picks for a proven playoff performer

  3. Holiday is nearing his late 30s. Unless the team is completely desperate to win this season itself at all costs I dont think hed be worth whatever Portland would ask for him

  6. Knicks get Giannis and Holiday (salary)
    Bucks get KAT and some of their own picks back from Portland
    Blazers get Mikal

  7. I think people need to take a look at his contract and tell me if he’s still worth it lol. If he was making like 15m less sure but we’d be paying around 40m for a near 40 year old Jrue Holiday. Perfect player next to Cap tho

  8. Gianni’s and Jrue to Knicks. Bridges to Portland. Towns yabuslae McBride works money wise

  11. Jrue’s getting up there in age. I know what he brings to the table defensively, but it depends on who they ask for in return.

  14. Jrue is pushing 36 and he’s owed around 35-37mil per year for another 2 seasons after this.

  15. So I had a few drinks an hour ago just and stumbled into this thread. Started thinking of a trade with Portland that could work. Not involvina 3rd team. My head started to hurt but I was able to ask Grok. She said

    Knicks send Karl-Anthony Towns (about fifty-three million) to the Trail Blazers.

    Blazers send Jrue Holiday (thirty-two point four million), Toumani Camara (two point two million), Robert Williams III (thirteen point three million), and a couple future second-round picks to the Knicks.

    Salary-wise, Portland’s outgoing totals around forty-seven point nine million, which is within the allowed one hundred twenty-five percent plus one hundred thousand of Towns’ salary (max they can send is about sixty-six million, so it’s fine).

    Knicks get back solid defense with Jrue and Time Lord at center, plus young wing upside in Camara, while Portland gets their star big man to build around with their young core.

    Yes I pasted it word for word. Thoughts?

  17. If the Knicks have JB, OG, Giannis, Jrue, Mikal, Big Meech, Clarkson, etc that’s a winning roster end of story.

  18. A 35 y.o. with $32-37M/yr salary for 3 yrs… He’s still a good player but not at that price

  19. I like Jrue but trading for his contract at his age is a bad idea. I know people are low on Mikal rn but he’s still only 29 and plays every game. Not letting him go unless there’s an undeniable upgrade at play

  21. Jrue is great but he is so old in NBA years.

    This trade would literally shorten our window and give us no more outs or optionality moving forward. BKN would 100% want us to do this because the 2029 and 2031 become super valuable.

    I don’t like this move. I’d prefer the route where we continue to be contenders but have a longer window to do it while adding around the edges. A 35 year old Jrue is NOT it.

  22. Too many moving parts I just don’t see it . More than likely Knicks will stand pat and make a small yabusele trade .

  23. I know people love to talk about the Portland picks as an option but what reason do they have to give those picks back… for Bridges? I feel like they could squeeze more value for those to get another guy to pair with Deni

  24. Acquiring both Giannis and Jru would Hardcap them and they would have to include KAT, Mikal McBride and even more salary or Mitch

    Hard Pass

  28. Mikal for jrue(plus picks) basically works this off season.

    Jrue has played at a very high level this season, arguably better than mikal, when he’s been on the court. He’s def been better in 2 things the Knicks need than mikal, which is ball handling/creation(7 apg) and POA defense.

    His contract isn’t a huge deal because(assuming no other changes) jrue and Kat’s deals expire in 2028(assume 2 years over second apron) and than 95 million comes off which reignites cap flexibility.

    I’m of the opinion Knicks run out this season w a minor upgrade over yabu, and than if they can pull off this deal this off season it’s a huge win, especially if it nets us back any draft capital which it 100% should

  30. Only way this makes sense if you do a 4 team trade

    Knicks
    Get Jrue Holiday
    Giannis
    Karlo/Micah(Salary filler from NO)

    Bucks get
    Kat
    Murry(NO)
    Pacome
    Kolek
    Knicks wiz pick
    31/33 Knicks 1st rounder swap
    Bucks control own 28 swap (from Portland)

    Portland gets
    Mikal
    Zion
    Yabu

    Pels get
    Myles Turner
    Grant(From Portland)
    Clarkson

    Knicks still needs to get 2 more players to be roster compliance but this trade puts them 1.2 million under the second apron

    Reminder this is just me throwing an idea out there. Idk why Portland would give up a swap they control to the bucks for just bridges unless they get a big upgrade(Zion)

    This numbers work but it’s not realistic btw

  31. Reading these trade proposals is just plain comedy. The Bucks DO NOT want KAT. Why would they?

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