Mikal Bridges, Knicks
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Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks draws trade interest from a surprise team.
The New York Knicks’ long-term vision around Mikal Bridges is facing fresh scrutiny as the team navigates uneven play from its starting wing — and as the league’s simmering Giannis Antetokounmpo speculation grows louder.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Bridges has drawn interest from an unexpected direction: the Portland Trail Blazers, a team uniquely positioned to influence any future Antetokounmpo blockbuster involving New York.
Why Portland Looms in Potential Giannis-to-Knicks Talks
Mikal Bridges, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Knicks
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks.
In his latest report for The Stein Line, Fischer outlined why Portland is quietly being monitored around the league as a possible third-team facilitator in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade between Milwaukee and New York.
“Something to file away: Portland is definitely a team to track here when it comes to eventual Antetokounmpo outcomes,” Fischer wrote.
While no one expects Antetokounmpo to push for Portland as a destination, the Blazers control a critical piece of Milwaukee’s future: the Bucks’ draft capital in 2028, 2029, and 2030 as a result of the Jrue Holiday–Damian Lillard deal, according to Fischer.
That leverage has long fueled Portland’s internal belief that it could insert itself into a multi-team trade if Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee tenure ends.
“And I’m told Blazers officials have always viewed Antetokounmpo’s potential Milwaukee exit as a chance to improve their own roster by jumping into a multi-team deal,” Fischer added.
Here’s where the Knicks come in.
“League sources say Portland has long admired New York’s Mikal Bridges going back to Damian Lillard’s first stint as a Blazer,” Fischer wrote.
Bridges’ On-Court Struggles Add New Scrutiny
The timing of that revelation is notable. Bridges is coming off another difficult offensive performance in Saturday’s 112–109 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers — New York’s second straight victory after a four-game skid.
Bridges scored just nine points on 3-of-16 shooting and went 1-for-9 from three-point range. After missing six straight shots, he was benched for much of the fourth quarter as the Knicks closed with a different lineup.
The struggles reflect a broader trend. After a strong October — when Bridges averaged 19.0 points per game while shooting 48.1 percent from beyond the arc — his production has dipped sharply.
In January, Bridges is averaging 14.3 points on 34.8 percent shooting from three. His season scoring average of 15.8 points is his lowest since the 2021–22 campaign.
That regression has naturally fueled outside speculation, even as the Knicks remain publicly committed to Bridges as a core piece.
A Massive Investment, With Complications
New York paid a steep price to acquire Bridges in 2024, sending out five first-round picks and a pick swap. After an uneven first season, the Knicks doubled down, signing him to a four-year, $150 million extension.
That contract, however, came with a six-month trade restriction — one that expires Jan. 31, just days before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Until that date, Bridges has been unavailable in any trade scenario. Once the restriction lifts, league executives expect his name to surface more frequently, even if the Knicks have no immediate intention of moving him.
Giannis Rumors Continue to Swirl
Underlying all of this is the growing belief across the NBA that Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee is uncertain.
According to Fischer, multiple league sources believe a split is inevitable — if not now, then soon.
“The cumulative effect of them all… is that they stem from a rising leaguewide belief that a divorce is inevitable,” Fischer wrote.
One source was blunt: “This is shaping up to be a draft-day kind of thing.”
Another added: “It’s happening.”
The expectation, per Fischer, is that any Antetokounmpo deal is more likely to materialize around the NBA Draft rather than before the Feb. 5 deadline.
ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported that Antetokounmpo named the Knicks as his preferred landing spot last summer, during an exclusive negotiating window between New York and Milwaukee — a period that coincided with Bridges finalizing his extension.
What It All Means for the Knicks
None of this suggests an imminent trade involving Bridges. But as New York balances short-term contention with long-term ambition, his name now sits at the intersection of performance, contract timing, and league-wide superstar movement.
For now, Bridges remains a Knick. But with his trade restriction set to expire and Giannis speculation gaining traction, the league is clearly watching — and his performance from hereon will be under heavy scrutiny.