After reporting last week that Portland was intrigued by the possibility of facilitating a multi-team trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo if the team could upgrade its roster in the process, Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) now hear the Trail Blazers have also expressed interest in acquiring the two-time MVP themselves.
According to Fischer and Stein, Portland’s front office recognizes Giannis is unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the Blazers, calling it an “extreme long shot.” The Stein Line duo reiterate that being involved as a facilitator in a multi-team deal where Portland acquires a different player (or players) is a “far more likely scenario.”
Rival teams think acquiring Blazers guard Jrue Holiday would help improve their odds of acquiring his former Bucks teammate Antetokounmpo, Fischer and Stein add. They continue to list Knicks wing Mikal Bridges as a player the Blazers like.
However, Fischer and Stein also point out that the Blazers have Holiday and Damian Lillard (another ex-Buck) on their roster, and both players are still close to the Greek star.
Portland controls Milwaukee’s first-round picks from 2028-2030 (one pick and two swaps) due to the 2023 trade that sent Lillard to Milwaukee and Holiday to Portland. Holiday was flipped to Boston at the time, helping the Celtics win the title in 2024, before being traded back to the Blazers this past summer.
The Blazers also control some of their own first-rounders and have promising young players like second-year center Donovan Clingan. In terms of assets, the Blazers could theoretically put together an appealing package for Antetokounmpo in the next five days, though they could also offer far more in the offseason (further clarity on lottery-protected 2026 pick; poison pill provision will no longer apply to Shaedon Sharpe; Toumani Camara would be trade-eligible; etc.).
Yeah, Sure
In todays daily Giannis news, he is interested in (insert team). Shocking news.
Not sure if you read any of the words above the comment button but this says nothing about Giannis wanting to go to Portland.
No shot.
Seems like chum and click bait. Let’s see if we (Milwaukee) can create an artificial feeding frenzy.
Calling it now. Giannis is becoming Mormon and going to Utah 😂
Bucks hold onto him until end of the season where they can get a better offer.
We’ve already seen that Giannis and Dame didn’t work. And I can’t see it working very well next to Downhill Deni either. Are the Blazerssending Deni out in this trade?
The only way I see the Knicks acquiring Giannis is Kat going to the Bucks, Bridges to the Blazers, with Gianni’s and Holiday coming to the Knicks. Brunson, Holiday, OG, Giannis, and Robinson. The defense would be insane, but injury risk would skyrocket.
I promise you Donovan Clingan is a worthless baby brained giant