With the NBA trade deadline about a week away, the New York Knicks appear more likely to make a calculated tweak than a headline-grabbing move. Senior NBA insider Chris Haynes offered a clear snapshot of where things stand, putting an actual percentage on New York’s likelihood of acting before Feb. 5.
Chris Haynes Suggests the New York Knicks Could Be Active at the Trade Deadline
In a clip posted by NBA Courtside X handle, Haynes is seen predicting the likelihood of the Knicks making any moves at the trade deadline:
“The Knicks are looking at Jose Alvarado, Keon Ellis… My colleague Marc Stein has reported that they have some level of interest in Jrue Holiday for the Portland Trailblazers,” Haynes said. “So the Knicks, I’m going to give them a 45% chance of them making a move.”
That measured outlook aligns with how the Knicks’ front office has approached the season. New York sits third in the Eastern Conference at 28–18 and has little appetite for disrupting a core that has largely delivered.
Jalen Brunson remains firmly entrenched as the franchise’s lead guard, averaging 28.0 points and six assists per game, and the organization is satisfied with its top-end talent.
League expectations are that the Knicks, if they do act, will target modest bench upgrades rather than pursue splashy names. Second-apron restrictions significantly limit flexibility, and New York is prioritizing ball-handlers or defensive wings who can help on the margins without sacrificing long-term assets.
That context explains the reported interest in Alvarado and Ellis, both of whom would provide perimeter defense and depth. Jrue Holiday, however, represents a more layered possibility. On the court, the veteran guard would be an ideal complement to Brunson due to his ability to defend at the point of attack while functioning both on and off the ball.
Off the court, Holiday’s name connects to the Knicks’ long-term ambitions. Around the league, the Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-New York rumor has become persistent background noise, and Holiday’s close relationship with the Bucks superstar is not lost on rival executives. There is a belief that adding Holiday could strengthen New York’s case if Antetokounmpo ever becomes available, even if such a move is more realistic in the summer than at the deadline.
For now, the Knicks appear content to let the market come to them. Haynes’ 45% estimate reflects a front office that is open to opportunity but unwilling to force a deal, especially with its bigger aspirations clearly aimed beyond this season’s trade deadline.
The Knicks, meanwhile, will be back on the court against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, Jan. 28, with the opportunity to extend their three-game winning streak.
