Giannis Antetokounmpo could be a member of the Boston Celtics very soon. Boston was rumored to be a potential landing spot for Giannis sweepstakes from the time they were eliminated from the postseason.
Now things seem to be picking up steam as the NBA draft approaches.
ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst appeared on Get Up on Monday morning to report that the Celtics made Jaylen Brown available in their latest trade package, and fellow NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that the deal could happen before tomorrow night’s draft.
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A Brown for Antetokounmpo trade sounds like it could happen in the next 24 hours.
“Well, I will tell you this. I was really skeptical that the Boston Celtics were gonna go all-in on this. And from what I understand, they have,” said Windhorst. “The Celtics and the Heat are the two teams aggressively going after Giannis. I would say they are the finalists, and if Giannis is going to be traded in the next 24 hours. Which I think is a good chance of happening, I think it’s either going to be to Boston or Miami.”
Windhorst then revealed that Brown was officially in play.
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“They were very cautious about putting Jaylen Brown in these in an official, firm offer. I believe they have. Jaylen Brown is on the table, and Jaylen Brown could get traded for Giannis in the short-term future.”
Charania then appeared alongside Windhorst on the crowded Get Up desk to update the timeline for a potential deal.
“Sources tell me a trade and a resolution is coming for the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA draft on Tuesday night. The Bucks are in serious conversations with two finalists, the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Both teams are Giannis’s preferred destinations.”
Shams says the Bucks will be choosing between the Celtics’ offer of Brown and a bevy of picks and low-cost players from the Heat. These would be two-team deals. Though Charania did leave the door open for other teams to get involved, like when the Kevin Durant trade turned into a straight-up deal for Dillon Brooks, Jaylen Green, and some draft picks, and ended up being the biggest trade in NBA history.
If Giannis ends up in Miami, he and Bam Adebayo will form a fearsome front line with whoever else the Heat have left on the roster. It’s the kind of pairing you need if you plan on meeting Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the Finals next season. Though the rest of the roster will need some work.
As for the Celtics, this could signal a point of no return for the franchise when it comes to Jaylen Brown. If this trade doesn’t happen, then they’ll have to deal with a superstar coming off his best season who knows the organization tried to trade him, even if Brown has downplayed all the rumors of his discontent since Jayson Tatum returned to the lineup. Fortunately, that’s a problem they only have to address if they don’t complete this trade.
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