Giannis Antetokounmpo has accomplished a great deal in his 13-year NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks. Antetokounmpo brought Milwaukee its first championship in 50 years. He also became just the third player in NBA history to win both MVP and DPOY in the same season.
However, despite his achievements and obvious love for the city, trade rumors have surrounded Antetokounmpo for years.
Could The Boston Celtics Be Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Next Team?
Adding fuel to the fire has been Antetokounmpo’s recent strained relationship with the Bucks. After hyperextending his knee in a Mar. 15 win over the Indiana Pacers, Antetokounmpo did not play for the remainder of the year, despite his assurances that he was healthy enough to do so.
The Bucks have recently begun seeking trade offers for the 2021 Finals MVP. With this, Antetokounmpo’s future there looks as uncertain as ever.
So, if not Milwaukee, will Boston be the city Antetokounmpo plays for next?
A Nine-Time All-Star Up For Grabs
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Bucks officials expect a “robust market” for Antetokounmpo. The front office is expected to maintain the trade deadline asking price of either young, high-level talent or multiple draft picks.
Antetokounmpo’s contract keeps him in Milwaukee until 2027. The deal also includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. However, should Antetokounmpo opt out of that player option, he would become an unrestricted free agent. That would shrink Milwaukee’s window for trading the superstar down to this offseason.
Bucks co-owner Wes Edens confirmed this in an interview with ESPN in March.
“Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract]. So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended, or he’ll be traded. The likelihood you’ll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can’t afford that. It’s not consistent with what’s good for the organization. That’s not a Giannis issue. That’s any player that’s in their last year.”
Is Beantown the Move?
The Boston Celtics would be an interesting destination for Antetokounmpo. An Eastern Conference rival to the Bucks, Boston lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games.
Following the Celtics’ first-round exit this postseason, there has been some speculation about Jaylen Brown‘s future with the team.
After their elimination at the hands of the Sixers, Brown said he wished the Celtics stuck with the style of play that made them successful in the regular season. This has led former NBA superstar Tracy McGrady to speculate that Brown is unhappy with the organization.
“I think his frustration lies deeply within the organization and other things that we don’t have the details too. There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing going on with the Boston organization with J.B.”
This opens the door for Brown to potentially be included in a trade for Antetokounmpo.
A one-for-one swap cannot be ruled out, particularly since the salaries of the two stars match. However, should the Celtics wish to keep Brown and give up other pieces instead, a third team would have to be involved.
Other Celtics who could be traded for Antetokounmpo include big men Nikola Vucevic and Neemias Queta, and even standout guard Payton Pritchard.
Vucevic is a veteran center who played 64 games for the Celtics and Chicago Bulls last season, averaging 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Queta, on the other hand, had a breakout year for Boston and will be able to contribute as any team’s starting center.
Pritchard became the team’s starting point guard after Jrue Holiday was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Pritchard has proven himself as a capable scorer and playmaker, exploding for 42 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers last November.
Just two seasons removed from hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Celtics have largely retained the core players that led them to success. However, trading Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis last summer hurt the roster greatly. As the Celtics head into this offseason, they are sure to make some moves to expedite their return to the peaks of the playoffs. What are the chances that Antetokounmpo is a part of those plans?
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