Knicks Rumors: KAT, Giannis, Yabusele, Targets, Bridges
The Knicks reportedly spoke to the Bucks about a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade last offseason after the two-time MVP identified New York as a preferred landing spot, but those talks didn’t go anywhere. That could be partly because Karl-Anthony Towns was rumored to be the Knicks’ outgoing salary, and some people around the league don’t highly value the former No. 1 overall pick.
“I don’t think there is a [trade] market for KAT,” an NBA executive told Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link). “Not that he is a bad player, but he’s not a winning player. … It’s too much money to spend on him.”
Knicks sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that the offseason trade talks involving the two big men created “hard feelings” between Towns and the front office that “remain to this day.”
For his part, Towns downplayed his name being involved in recent trade chatter, Bondy writes in another story. The five-time All-Star has known Leon Rose for years, as the Knicks’ president was Towns’ former agent at CAA, but they haven’t spoken about any of the speculation.
“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors a lot for a lot of times, for a year damn near. That don’t matter to me,” said Towns, who was traded from the Timberwolves to the Knicks before last season. “I don’t look at social media or none of that stuff. I focus on the job on hand which is trying to get wins every single night. As long as I do that, I do my job, I go home happy and I feel accomplished. I’m not worried about what anybody got to say or people write or anything like that.”
Here are a few more rumors and notes from New York:
- According to Bondy, the Knicks remain highly interested in Antetokounmpo, but Milwaukee is reportedly looking for “blue-chip young talent” and several draft picks in any deal involving the nine-time All-NBA forward, and New York simply lacks the necessary assets to have a competitive bid compared to other teams, which control their future first-round picks. Unless Antetokounmpo specifically requests to be traded to the Knicks, they’re a “long shot” to land him, says Bondy. Of course, even if Giannis does prefer to play in New York, the Bucks aren’t obligated to fulfill the request. New York’s odds of landing Antetokounmpo would theoretically improve in the offseason, Bondy notes, when the team will have two first-round picks to trade, as opposed to the top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick the Knicks currently control from the Wizards that will likely turn into two second-rounders.
- The Knicks are still actively looking to unload Guerschon Yabusele‘s contract and have been talking to multiple teams about possible trades, Bondy reports (subscription required). Bondy continues to hear Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado is on the team’s radar, and confirms Yves Missi is as well. Kings guard Keon Ellis is another player who has fans in the Knicks organization, a source tells Bondy.
- Yabusele, a french forward/center, holds a $5.8MM player option for next season. When asked about the possibility of returning to the EuroLeague at some point, Yabusele didn’t rule it out but said his focus is on the NBA, per Toni Canyameras of Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (Twitter video link). “I feel like that’s a good question,” Yabusele said. “I definitely don’t know what tomorrow is going to be like or anything like that. But I never close my door on anything. Obviously it was so [difficult to make it back] to the NBA [that I’m focused on staying] in the NBA, but we will see what opportunities present themselves. There’s definitely going to be a conversation to have, and [we’ll] see what the [European options are]. We will see. I will never say never [to a potential return].”
- Veteran wing Mikal Bridges has been in a slump for most of the past month, but he torched the Raptors in Wednesday’s win at Toronto, finishing with 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting in 36 minutes. Bridges, a Philadelphia native who played college ball at Villanova, struggled in Saturday’s loss in Philly, scoring just nine points on 3-of-16 shooting. He said that game served as something of a wake-up call (Twitter video link via Knicks on MSG). “I think a lot of it comes from not just shooting the ball, I think I just wasn’t playing how I was supposed to be playing. I think I wasn’t coachable enough,” Bridges said. “I don’t know what it was. Maybe I felt too much entitlement. Just kinda had to talk to myself a little bit about it and just be coachable and be the best teammate I can be and let the basketball speak for itself.”
NBA Announces New Dates For Four Games
The NBA has officially announced new dates for two games that were postponed last weekend due to weather conditions. Sunday’s Nuggets/Grizzlies game in Memphis and Mavericks/Bucks contest in Milwaukee were both affected by a severe winter storm.
The new dates for those games are as follows:
- Nuggets at Grizzlies: Wednesday, March 18 (7:00 pm Central time).
- Mavericks at Bucks: Tuesday, March 31 (7:00 pm CT).
As a result of these schedule adjustments, the NBA has also moved the dates for two additional games involving the Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Knicks. Here are those changes:
- Knicks at Grizzlies: Moved from Wednesday, March 18 to Wednesday, April 1 (7:00 pm CT).
- Mavericks at Grizzlies: Moved from Wednesday, April 1 to Thursday, March 12 (7:00 pm CT).
The Mavericks and Grizzlies both had two days off scheduled for March 11 and 12, so it made sense for the NBA to move one of their matchups against one another to that date in order to accommodate the other changes.
The Knicks had been scheduled for a back-to-back set on March 17 and 18, but will now have a back-to-back on March 31 and April 1 instead. The contest in Memphis will be the fourth and final game in a road trip that otherwise would’ve ended in Houston.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Intrigued By Wolves, Sixers?
Confirming reporting from ESPN’s Shams Charania, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) say the Timberwolves should be included among the group of teams considered serious suitors for Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Minnesota doesn’t currently have a tradable first-round pick, but Stein and Fischer hear that Antetokounmpo has “quietly had the Timberwolves in his thoughts” for some time and would be very intrigued by the possibility of teaming up with star guard Anthony Edwards. While Giannis doesn’t hold a no-trade clause, he’ll have some leverage in the Bucks’ trade talks, since any potential trade partner would be reluctant to give up a massive haul for a player who could reach free agency and head elsewhere as soon as 2027.
As Stein and Fischer observe, the Wolves weren’t willing to include forward Jaden McDaniels in an offer for Kevin Durant last year and have been reluctant to make many of their higher-paid rotation players available this season as they scour the trade market for backcourt help. But the expectation is that they’d be much more open to discussing McDaniels and others as part of a potential package for Antetokounmpo.
Surveying the market for the two-time MVP, Stein and Fischer touch on several other teams, including Philadelphia. The Sixers haven’t contacted Milwaukee about a possible Giannis deal to this point, but they’re on his radar, according to The Stein Line’s duo, who point out that Antetokounmpo and Sixers star Tyrese Maxey both work with trainer Drew Hanlen.
Here are several more Giannis-related updates:
- Antetokounmpo’s potential interest in the Heat dates back to at least 2020, when he had Miami high on his list of possible landing spots if he didn’t sign an extension with the Bucks, per Stein and Fischer. He also reportedly had interest in joining the Knicks last summer. Still, it won’t be easy for either team to win a bidding war for the star forward. According to The Stein Line, some sources around the NBA have wondered whether New York missed its window to land Giannis and believe that a complicated multi-team framework would be necessary to get him to the Knicks at this point.
- According to Stein and Fischer, several rival front offices have wondered if the Bucks are trying to establish asking prices with potential Antetokounmpo suitors now before holding a full-fledged auction in the summer, when several teams will have more tradable first-round picks available. “They’re asking for the moon,” one general manager told The Stein Line on Thursday. “All of your young players and all of your draft picks.”
- Early indications are that the Hawks haven’t entered the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes and don’t intend to, Stein and Fischer write. That echoes reporting from Sam Amick of The Athletic, who said Hawks team officials were conveying on Wednesday that they aren’t involved on Giannis and are taking a long-term approach with their roster. Forward Jalen Johnson and the Hawks’ most favorable 2026 first-round pick (either the Pelicans’ or Bucks’ selection) would be extremely valuable trade chips, but Atlanta reportedly isn’t interested in parting with either one and has some reservations about how Antetokounmpo and Johnson would fit together, per Stein and Fischer.
Scotto’s Latest: Celtics, Simons, Boucher, Wolves, Knicks, More
Avoiding the luxury tax this season isn’t necessarily a top priority for the Celtics, who have conveyed to rival teams that they’re not looking to attach a first-round pick to Anfernee Simons‘ expiring $27.7MM contract in a cost-cutting move, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Presumably, the Celtics would remain open to the idea of moving Simons and draft compensation for a meaningful upgrade, but not for a lateral move that simply reduces their tax bill. For instance, Scotto says the Bulls inquired earlier this season about a swap of Simons and a first-round pick for center Nikola Vucevic, which didn’t interest Boston.
On the other hand, the Celtics did kick the tires on the possibility of a deal sending Simons, a first-round pick, and a first-round pick swap to the Clippers in exchange for big man Ivica Zubac and salary filler, but they didn’t gain any momentum on that front, per Scotto. Having won 16 of their past 19 games, the Clippers reportedly aren’t entertaining the idea of a Zubac trade at this point.
Although they’d be open to a deal that upgrades their frontcourt, the Celtics are also weighing the possibility of trading some of their depth in the middle, given that Neemias Queta has played well as the starting five and Luka Garza is handling the backup role. Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman are possible trade candidates, Scotto writes, citing league sources who say the Hawks, Sixers, and Suns are among the teams to express exploratory interest in Boucher.
Here are a few more of the highlights from Scotto’s latest rumor round-up:
- The Timberwolves have been receiving calls from rival teams about key contributors like Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Donte DiVincenzo, but they highly value those players and aren’t looking to move any of them, according to Scotto. McDaniels is viewed as borderline untouchable, while Minnesota would likely only seriously consider moving Reid and DiVincenzo for an All-Star caliber player, Scotto adds.
- Although there were some whispers about the possibility of the Spurs and Knicks swapping Jeremy Sochan for Guerschon Yabusele and Pacome Dadiet, San Antonio wasn’t interested in that construction due to Yabusele’s $5.8MM player option for next season, says Scotto.
- As the Knicks consider their trade options, they’re willing to include the Wizards’ top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick to upgrade their roster, per Scotto. That pick almost certainly won’t convey, which means it would instead turn into Washington’s 2026 and 2027 second-round selections, but given where the Wizards are in their rebuild, those second-rounders are still considered valuable.
- As Ayo Dosunmu nears unrestricted free agency, some executives around the NBA believe the Bulls guard will be in line for a contract in the neighborhood of the full mid-level exception or even higher, Scotto writes.
Raptors Among Teams Eyeing Yves Missi
Pelicans center Yves Missi is among the potential targets on the Raptors‘ radar as they seek frontcourt help at the trade deadline, reports Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
With starting center Jakob Poeltl having battled back problems all season long, Toronto is believed to be looking to fortify its depth chart at the five while also ducking below the luxury tax line. The team, which is operating about $1MM into the tax, has been linked to big men like Daniel Gafford, Goga Bitadze, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Nick Richards over the course of the season.
The Raptors have also been connected to star-caliber bigs such as Anthony Davis of the Mavericks and Domantas Sabonis of the Kings, but they haven’t gained real traction on either front, sources tell Siegel, and they’re probably more inclined to make a smaller move.
At 29-19 (fourth in the East), Toronto has exceeded expectations so far this season, and Siegel suggests head coach Darko Rajakovic and the Raptors’ players have conveyed to management that they’d prefer if the roster isn’t shaken up too significantly.
A player like Missi would appeal to the Raptors – and other suitors – due to his modest salary ($3.4MM) and his favorable contract, which includes a $3.5MM salary for 2026/27 and a $5.6MM team option for ’27/28. The 21st overall pick in the 2024 draft, Missi started 67 games and averaged 26.8 minutes per game for New Orleans as a rookie, but has primarily come off the bench this season and has seen his MPG dip to 19.2.
Missi’s precise value on the trade market is unclear. According to Siegel, the consensus around the NBA is that the Pelicans will have to settle for multiple second-round draft picks if they move him. However, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) hears New Orleans wants to land a 2026 first-rounder for Missi and has already turned down at least one offer centered around second-round selections.
Toronto has also explored the idea of acquiring Missi as part of a larger package, per Siegel, who says the Raptors brought up the idea of offering RJ Barrett, Ochai Agbaji, and draft picks for Missi and Trey Murphy III. However, the Pelicans – who have been averse to the idea of trading Murphy at all – didn’t have interest in that framework.
The Pacers, Knicks, and Bulls are among the other teams previously reported to have expressed interest in Missi. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Hawks, Celtics, and Lakers are also in that group of potential suitors.
Giannis Reportedly ‘Ready For New Home’; Bucks Listening To Offers
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home,” either at next week’s trade deadline or this offseason, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
According to Charania, multiple teams have made “aggressive” trade offers for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have begun listening to those pitches. While rival clubs have gotten the sense that Milwaukee is more open than ever to weighing offers on or before February 5, the Bucks have conveyed that they’re willing to wait until the summer to address the forward’s future if their asking price isn’t met, Charania writes.
Sources tell ESPN that the Bucks are believed to be seeking “blue-chip young talent” and several draft picks in any deal involving the two-time MVP. Waiting until after the 2026 draft lottery to make a deal could give Milwaukee a clearer sense of exactly which picks teams are prepared to offer for Antetokounmpo, Charania notes.
Antetokounmpo told The Athletic earlier this month that he’ll “never” come out and say he wants a trade, and that it’s not in his nature to make such a request. However, Charania hears that Giannis and the Bucks have had “honest and open conversations” about the future and that the 31-year-old has suggested to the team “for months” that he thinks it may be time to part ways.
The Knicks reportedly spoke to the Bucks about a possible Antetokounmpo trade last offseason after Giannis identified New York as a preferred landing spot. Those talks didn’t go anywhere, but Ian Begley of SNY.tv tweets that the Knicks will be among the teams aggressively pursuing Giannis now that Milwaukee is apparently prepared to open up the bidding to a larger group of suitors.
The Heat will also be in pursuit of Antetokounmpo, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. As we relayed earlier today, a Marc Stein report named Miami as a possible frontrunner for the Greek star, with Stein citing a “vibe of confidence” coming from the Heat.
Although the Knicks and Heat will be among the teams trying to land Antetokounmpo, neither club is loaded with the type of draft assets that the Bucks would presumably be seeking in a blockbuster of this magnitude. The Knicks don’t currently have any tradable first-round picks, while Miami can offer just two first-rounders as a result of a protected 2027 pick owed to Charlotte that creates Stepien rule complications.
As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron points out (via Twitter), both teams would be better equipped to pursue Giannis in the offseason, when the Heat could offer up to four first-round picks (one would be conditional) and the Knicks could offer two.
The Warriors are also considered a likely suitor for Antetokounmpo, with Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints referring to him as Joe Lacob‘s “dream” trade target. Golden State has indicated it would be willing to offer a package that includes Jimmy Butler (who recently suffered an ACL tear), Jonathan Kuminga, and multiple draft picks, sources tell Chris Mannix of SI.com.
The Warriors have traded their 2030 first-round pick with top-20 protection, but could still offer first-rounders in 2026, 2028, and 2032, and could even include that ’30 pick in a package by attaching 21-30 protection.
The Raptors are another club with legitimate interest in Giannis, Siegel adds. Toronto controls all of its future first-round selections.
Trade speculation has swirled around Antetokounmpo for years and has gained steam since last spring, when the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a third straight year as star point guard Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear.
Milwaukee’s front office aggressively reshaped the roster around Giannis in the offseason, waiving and stretching the final two years of Lillard’s maximum-salary contract in order to bring in center Myles Turner, one of the top free agents on the market. But those moves haven’t paid dividends for the Bucks, who fell to 18-27 on the season on Tuesday and are three-and-a-half games out of a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks have scoured the trade market during the season and made players like Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis available as they look to improve their roster, but they haven’t gained traction on any deal they like. Charania suggests Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future and Milwaukee’s lack of appealing trade assets have complicated that search for roster upgrades.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported over the weekend that rival teams believed the prospect of an Antetokounmpo trade was becoming more realistic. Reiterating that point today, Fischer says (via Twitter) multiple sources viewed last Wednesday’s loss to Oklahoma City – and Giannis’ comments after the game – as a point of no return for the Bucks and their longtime star.
Charania reported last week that Antetokounmpo’s frustration level was at an “all-time high” and writes within his latest story that the uncertainty around the forward’s future has resulted in some unease and tension in the Bucks’ locker room.
Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined by a calf strain and appears unlikely to suit up again before next Thursday’s trade deadline. The Bucks haven’t provided a projected timeline for his recovery, but Giannis predicted after sustaining the injury last Friday that he’d be out for four-to-six weeks.
With Milwaukee struggling to win games and Antetokounmpo not expected to play anytime soon, the team could be incentivized to pivot to tanking mode – with or without a Giannis trade – during the second half of the season in order to secure a favorable pick in the 2026 draft. The Bucks don’t control their own selection, but they’ll have the last favorable of the Pelicans’ first-rounder and their own — given that New Orleans holds a 12-37 pick, even the lesser of those two picks should end up firmly in the lottery.
Antetokounmpo is earning $54.1MM this season, with a guaranteed $58.5MM salary for 2026/27 and a $62.8MM player option for ’27/28. He’ll be eligible to sign a new maximum-salary extension as of this October.
Karl-Anthony Towns Benched In Crunch Time Amid Trade Rumors
The Knicks closed out a win without Karl-Anthony Towns for the second time in four days, writes Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. On Saturday against Philadelphia, it was because he fouled out, but in Tuesday’s victory over Sacramento, coach Mike Brown made the decision to keep Towns on the bench for the final 6:51 and let Mitchell Robinson finish the game at center. The strategy worked as New York turned a four-point lead into a 16-point win after Towns departed.
Towns said of Brown’s decision. “We got a win, that’s the most important thing.”
Trade rumors have begun to emerge regarding Towns, whose offensive numbers have declined sharply in his first season under Brown. He finished with 17 points in 27 minutes last night while shooting 5-of-15 from the field and had a team-worst minus-3 rating.
After being acquired in a deal with Minnesota shortly before the start of last season, Towns teamed with Jalen Brunson to be the focus of the Knicks’ offense as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals. He averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds while earning third-team All-NBA honors.
The coaching transition from Tom Thibodeau to Brown seems to have affected Towns more than any other player. His stats have fallen to 20.5 PPG and 11.4 RPG and his shooting numbers (46.6% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range) are the worst of his career.
“At the end of the game, we had a group out on the floor that was playing well,” Brown explained. “It was a tight ballgame, so I just rode that group to the end of the game, which I’ve done before. We have Deuce (Miles McBride) out there, who’s not a starter, Mitch out there, who’s not a starter. We needed to get the win.”
Robinson’s emergence has been a factor in Towns’ reduced playing time, as he posted a plus-25 rating in 27 minutes against the Kings. However, Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post notes that the Knicks’ focus on keeping Robinson healthy for the playoffs and avoiding any further issues with his left ankle means his availability is frequently in question.
There have been conflicting reports on whether the Knicks are actually exploring a Towns deal, but it doesn’t seem likely to happen until Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future is resolved. With a $53.1MM salary this season that rises to $57MM in 2026/27, Towns could be a valuable piece in a potential deal for the Bucks star.
Stein’s Latest: Sochan, Knecht, Pelicans, Kessler, Towns, Ellis, Dinwiddie
The Spurs have given Jeremy Sochan and his representatives permission to explore a potential trade, league sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required).
Sochan was selected with the ninth pick in the 2022 draft and was a consistent starter during his first two seasons in San Antonio. He has been pushed out of the rotation as the team has improved and has only appeared in 27 games this season, averaging 4.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.1 minutes per night. Shooting continues to be an issue for the 22-year-old power forward, who is only connecting at 46.9% from the field and 28.7% from three-point range for his career.
The Knicks have been speculated as a potential Sochan suitor in their search for low-cost frontcourt help. He has a $7.1MM expiring contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer if he receives a qualifying offer.
Stein shares more inside information from around the league:
- Second-year Lakers small forward Dalton Knecht could also be on the move, according to Stein. He was a first-round pick in 2024, but is only seeing 12.5 minutes per night in 36 games this season and hasn’t played at all outside of garbage time over the past two weeks. Knecht was sent to Charlotte at last year’s deadline as part of a Mark Williams deal that was later rescinded.
- The Pelicans are seeking a “Desmond Bane-type offer” to part with Trey Murphy III or Herbert Jones, Stein states. Memphis received four future first-round picks and a first-round pick swap when Bane was sent to Orlando last summer. While New Orleans continues to flounder at the bottom of the West, both players are under long-term contracts, so there’s no urgency to move them.
- League sources tell Stein that the Jazz are confident about re-signing center Walker Kessler, who’s out for the season following left shoulder surgery. The Wizards are expected to pursue Kessler to team with Alex Sarr, according to Stein, but Utah will be able to match any offer for the restricted free agent.
- Teams around the league are watching the Knicks to see if they’re willing to consider moving Karl-Anthony Towns before the deadline or if they’re holding onto him as an asset for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Stein adds.
- Stein hears that an estimated 14 teams have expressed interest in Kings guard Keon Ellis. In an earlier column, Stein cited Ellis as possibly the most likely player to be traded before the deadline.
- Former NBA guard Spencer Dinwiddie said on a recent podcast that he’s interested in signing with the Rockets, Stein relays. Dinwiddie is a free agent after parting ways with Bayern Munich earlier this month, but Stein states that Houston is unlikely to consider any signings until the deadline passes.
Kings Rumors: Ellis, Poeltl, Kuminga, DeRozan, LaVine
A “ton” of teams have called the Kings to inquire about Keon Ellis, according to James Ham of Locked On Kings (YouTube link), who identifies the Timberwolves, Pacers, Celtics, and Knicks as a few of the clubs his sources suggest are worth monitoring as suitors for the fourth-year guard.
“From what I have heard, (they) have all called on Keon Ellis,” Ham said.
Ellis is an intriguing trade candidate because his $2.3MM expiring contract makes him an attainable piece for just about any NBA team, including clubs like Minnesota, Boston, and New York, who are operating above the first tax apron. If he’s dealt, Ellis’ Bird rights would travel with him and he’d become extension-eligible on February 9, just a few days after the trade deadline.
One weekend report suggested Ellis is among the players most likely to be moved at the deadline, with the Kings said to be seeking a late first-round pick.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- Discussing the possibility of the Raptors making a play for center Domantas Sabonis, Ham said the Kings have “zero interest” in acquiring big man Jakob Poeltl, who has battled back issues this season and is under contract through 2029/30 (YouTube link). “‘We’re not getting into the Jakob Poeltl business’ is what I was told,” Ham said, though he observed that the same source didn’t say anything about the Kings not getting into the “RJ Barrett business.” Barrett was drafted by the Knicks when current Kings general manager Scott Perry was in New York’s front office.
- Responding to speculation that the Raptors would seek Ellis along with Sabonis in a trade with the Kings, Ham says a source told him “unequivocally” that Toronto and Sacramento haven’t discussed Ellis to this point.
- The Kings are no longer willing to include any draft picks in a trade offer Jonathan Kuminga, but they remain interested in the Warriors forward, Ham confirms (YouTube link). “I do know for a fact that the Sacramento Kings have offered, in the past, DeMar DeRozan straight up for Jonathan Kuminga,” Ham said. Golden State would need to include one more player in that hypothetical deal in order to stay below its hard cap, but it doesn’t sound like the Warriors have real interest in DeRozan anyway.
- Zach LaVine would “absolutely love to move on from Sacramento,” according to Ham (YouTube link), though his maximum-salary contract will be a major impediment. Ham suggests there was a “ray of hope” about a potential deal with the Bucks involving Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis, but that outcome seems less likely as a result of Milwaukee’s recent struggles and Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s latest calf strain.
Stein’s Latest: Towns, Holiday, Knicks, Davis, Eason
Steve Popper of Newsday reported last week that the Knicks have talked to multiple teams about the possibility of trading Karl-Anthony Towns. Ian Begley of SNY.tv and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported differently, stating that they haven’t heard any buzz about the Knicks discussing Towns trades.
Sources told Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link) on Monday that the Knicks haven’t been “shopping” the 30-year-old or talking Towns trades with opposing teams. Bondy acknowledges that could change in the coming days, but he doesn’t expect the former No. 1 overall pick to be on the move by February 5.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), while New York’s front office has attempted to downplay Towns-related chatter, some rival teams believe that’s just posturing and that the five-time All-Star may be available under certain circumstances. At minimum, those clubs think the Knicks want to know what the market for Towns would look like, Stein writes.
Towns, 30, has averaged 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .469/.364/.856 shooting through 42 games this season (31.6 minutes per contest). He’s under contract through 2027/28, including a $61MM player option in that final season.
Here are a few more trade rumors from Stein’s latest round-up:
- Stein has heard “rumbles” that the Knicks have explored the viability of trying to trade for Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday. Acquiring Holiday might make New York an even more appealing landing spot for his former Bucks teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Stein, who adds that the Knicks are said to be longtime fans of the six-time All-Defensive member and view him as a strong fit in the backcourt next to Jalen Brunson.
- Despite the external chatter about New York potentially weighing major moves, sources close to the Knicks have insisted to Stein that they’re more focused on small-scale deals involving Guerschon Yabusele, who makes $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.8MM player option for 2026/27.
- Anthony Davis appears unlikely to be traded prior to the deadline, Stein confirms. The Mavericks are expected to continue fielding offers for the injured big man over the next several days, but there doesn’t seem to be any momentum towards a deal and Stein hears the 10-time All-Star prefers to stay with Dallas for the remainder of the season.
- The Rockets have made Tari Eason off limits in trade talks ahead of the deadline, Stein reports. The 24-year-old forward, who has dealt with a variety of injuries over the past few seasons, is converting a career-high 46.6% from three-point range in ’25/26 and will be a restricted free agent in the summer.
- In case you missed it, we passed along several more rumors from Stein on Sunday.