[Stein/Fischer] The Portland Trail Blazers have expressed interest in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Stein Line has learned that Portland has also expressed its own interest to 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 if 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.