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The 2026 NBA Trade Deadline falls next Thursday, less than a week away. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the blazing hot light on the horizon. Today Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reiterated [subscription required] that the Portland Trail Blazers remain in the mix for Giannis, either as a longshot contender in a direct trade or facilitating for the New York Knicks in a multi-team trade.
From the weekly newsletter from the duo:
A week ago, when we printed a lengthy look at why Bucks officials were coming to terms with the reality that legitimately entertaining trade offers The Greek Freak could no longer be avoided, we wrote a lot about the Portland Trail Blazers and their interest in joining any transaction that facilitates Antetokounmpo’s exit, since the Blazers control Milwaukee’s draft picks in 2028, 2029 and 2030.
The Blazers’ efforts have since gone beyond that.
The Stein Line has learned that Portland has also expressed its own interest the Bucks that it would like to acquire Antetokounmpo … even as the Blazers realistically understand that it would be an extreme longshot to convince Giannis to sign a contract extension that keeps him in the Pacific Northwest.
The far more likely scenario remains Portland participating in such a deal as a facilitator to snag an impact veteran (or two) as part of a multi-team trade structure. It should be noted, though, that the Blazers do have Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard on their roster — two players who have maintained a closeness with Milwaukee’s star.
Yet we repeat: The Blazers continue to be regarded as a plausible facilitator as an Antetokounmpo deal reaches the finish line in the next five days.
As we’ve been reporting since last weekend, Portland has long admired the likes of New York’s Mikal Bridges as a potential backcourt partner alongside Lillard and have a player in Holiday that the Knicks and other teams believe would enhance their chances of getting Antetokounmpo to their franchise if Holiday can also be acquired from Portland.
One thing’s for sure. With names like Antetokounmpo and Bridges swirling around, this will not be a dull week for Blazers fans. Stay tuned.