Giannis Antetokounmpo has not had the most certain future with the Milwaukee Bucks lately. After capturing his lone championship in 2021, things began to fall apart. When the team waived and stretched Damian Lillard, Antetokounmpo took it to heart. He was supposed to be his co-star, but Lillard’s Achilles injury forced the Bucks to get nothing in return for him.
Now, Giannis has been banged up with injuries this year, and the Bucks are struggling at 10-15, currently sitting as the tenth seed in a weak Eastern Conference. The trade rumors are swirling now more than ever, with a handful of teams that actually have the assets to acquire him.
If Giannis is traded, it would require a massive package that may involve three or more teams. This means other teams could take advantage of the situation surrounding Giannis and the possibility he may want out of Milwaukee, even if it means they don’t land Antetokounmpo himself.
One of these opportunistic teams may be the Boston Celtics, and according to Josh Cornelissen of Fansided, they could be positioned to acquire one of the league’s biggest winners in the process.
“The Boston Celtics are not trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, not when Jayson Tatum plays the same position. That does not mean they have to sit out the Antetokounmpo trade market, however,” Cornelissen said Sunday.
“Such a blockbuster deal could shake loose a player for the Celtics to target — such as defensive icon Draymond Green.”
Because the Golden State Warriors have long been tied to Giannis, they may make a splash by pairing him with Stephen Curry in hopes of bringing the city another championship. A package centered around Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga could financially get the job done once Kuminga becomes eligible for trade.
However, Milwaukee has no real use for Green, which means they could re-route him to another team—and that’s where the Celtics could swoop in. Anfernee Simons and draft capital could entice the Bucks, while Green’s defensive prowess would provide Boston with a veteran four-time champion to bolster their already formidable lineup.
This mega-deal scenario would send shockwaves through the NBA, reshaping contenders in both conferences. The Celtics, fresh off their own championship run, could add Green’s intensity and playmaking to their core, making them even more unstoppable. Meanwhile, the Warriors would chase one last ring with Curry and Giannis, and the Bucks could rebuild around younger talent and picks.
No one saw this twist coming, but if the rumors hold, the league could be in for one of the wildest trade deadlines in history. Stay tuned—Boston might just be going all-in to defend their title.