The possibility of Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving the Milwaukee Bucks is already sending shockwaves across the NBA. And according to ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, the Boston Celtics should be first in line to catch him.
“If I’m the Boston Celtics, I’m picking up the phone. Who don’t want to see Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo together? They might have to give up Jaylen Brown, okay, but damn it, we’re about championships over here in Beantown.”
Perkins’ comments came shortly after ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that the Bucks are officially “open for business” and fielding trade inquiries for Antetokounmpo ahead of the NBA Draft. According to Charania, Milwaukee is preparing for a pivotal stretch of conversations with Giannis after the two-time MVP informed the franchise months ago that he believes “it’s time to part ways.”
The revelation immediately intensified speculation around the Celtics, who are once again facing questions about whether their current core – Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – can deliver another championship.
Perkins took the idea a step further by openly suggesting that Brown could become the centerpiece of a blockbuster offer.
“I want to see that smoke. Brad Stevens, I don’t know if that video is real — he got a new haircut. That means he got a new vision. And I got a vision with them: Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
Let that sink in. A former Celtics champion – a player who knows what it takes to win in Boston – is openly advocating for trading the team’s second-best player to acquire a top-3 superstar.
It’s bold. It’s controversial. It might also be the smartest move the Celtics could make.
Let’s break down the Giannis-to-Boston rumors, what a trade would look like, why Perkins believes in the vision, and whether the Celtics should actually pull the trigger.
The Giannis Reality: Why Milwaukee Is “Open for Business”
Let’s start with the news that started everything.
Shams Charania, the most trusted NBA insider in the business, reported that the Bucks are officially open to trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo. This is not speculation. This is reporting. The Bucks are at least willing to listen.
What changed? The relationship has soured. Giannis informed the franchise months ago that he believes “it’s time to part ways.” The Bucks missed the playoffs this season. Tensions have been building for years.
Now, Milwaukee is preparing for a pivotal stretch of conversations with their franchise superstar. They can offer him a massive extension. They can try to convince him to stay. Or they can trade him and start over.
The Celtics, according to Charania, were among several teams – alongside the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Lakers – that pursued Antetokounmpo before February’s trade deadline.
They didn’t get him then. But now, the door might be wider open.
The Kendrick Perkins Pitch: Why Boston Should Go All-In
Let’s talk about Perkins’ comments, because they carry weight.
Perkins won a championship with the Celtics in 2008. He knows the city. He knows the fans. He knows what it takes to win in Boston. When he says the Celtics should trade for Giannis, people listen.
“They might have to give up Jaylen Brown, okay, but damn it, we’re about championships over here in Beantown.”
That’s the bottom line. The Celtics are not a development franchise. They’re a championship franchise. They have 18 banners in the rafters. They don’t hang banners for “almost.” They don’t celebrate Eastern Conference Finals appearances. They celebrate titles.
If trading Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo gives the Celtics a better chance to win a title – and it almost certainly does – then the Celtics should do it.
Perkins also made a cryptic reference to Celtics president Brad Stevens:
“I don’t know if that video is real — he got a new haircut. That means he got a new vision.”
The joke is that Stevens recently appeared in a video with a fresh haircut, looking ready for a new era. Perkins is suggesting that Stevens might already be thinking about a major roster shakeup.
The Fit: Tatum and Giannis Together
Let’s talk about the basketball.
Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo together would be one of the most dominant duos in NBA history. Not “potentially” dominant. Not “could be” dominant. Dominant.
Tatum is a 6-foot-8 wing who can score from anywhere. He’s a brilliant shooter, a creative shot-maker, and a versatile defender. He’s a top-5 player in the world.
Giannis is a 6-foot-11 freak who can do everything. He’s a two-time MVP. He’s a Finals MVP. He’s a defensive player of the year. He’s a top-3 player in the world.
Together, they would be unstoppable. Defenses would have to choose: double Tatum and leave Giannis rolling to the rim? Double Giannis and leave Tatum open on the perimeter? Play them straight up and hope for the best?
There’s no right answer. That’s the point.
The fit is actually better than people think. Tatum can space the floor, allowing Giannis to operate in the paint. Giannis can set bone-crushing screens for Tatum. They can run two-man game actions that defenses cannot solve.
The Cost: What Would Boston Have to Give Up?
Now for the cold, hard reality.
If the Celtics want Giannis, they will almost certainly have to trade Jaylen Brown.
Brown is 29 years old. He’s an All-NBA caliber wing. He just averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists – all career highs. He’s under contract long-term. He’s a legitimate star.
But he’s not Giannis. And the Bucks will demand a star in return.
A realistic trade package might look like:
Jaylen Brown
Multiple first-round picks (the Celtics control six over the next seven years, including three tradeable first-rounders in 2027, 2031, and 2033)
Perhaps a young player (Payton Pritchard or Baylor Scheierman)
Salary filler to make the money work
That’s a massive haul. But for Giannis, it’s worth it.
The Celtics’ Assets: Why They Can Compete for Giannis
Let’s talk about Boston’s war chest.
The Celtics control six first-round picks over the next seven years. They have three tradeable first-rounders in 2027, 2031, and 2033. They also have four available second-round picks.
That’s significant ammunition. Not many teams can match that kind of draft capital.
Combined with Jaylen Brown’s star power, the Celtics can put together a package that few teams can beat.
The Knicks have assets. The Lakers have assets. The Thunder have more picks than anyone. But the Celtics have a unique combination of a win-now star (Brown) and future picks.
If the Bucks decide to trade Giannis, Boston will be at the table.
The Brown Situation: Why a Trade Might Be Inevitable
Let’s not ignore the context in Boston.
The Celtics just blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in the first round. They became just the 14th team in NBA history to lose a playoff series after holding that advantage. The questions about the Tatum-Brown duo are louder than ever.
Brown’s future has been a growing storyline. He made headlines during a Twitch stream when he criticized officiating and called Joel Embiid a flopper. Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady suggested that Brown’s frustrations with the organization “lie deeply within” the Celtics.
“I think part of him is like, ‘I showed you guys more of who I am as a basketball player.'”
McGrady walked back his comments, but the speculation stuck.
Brown himself addressed the situation, saying:
“First things first, lotta stuff swirling around the Celtics and our organization. Hate that our president of basketball operations even had to respond to this. Me and Brad have a great relationship. I love Boston. If it was up to me, I’d play in Boston for the next 10 years.”
That’s reassuring. But actions speak louder than words. And the Celtics have to decide if they believe Brown is fully committed.
The Extension Pressure: Why Boston Must Decide Soon
There’s another factor driving this conversation: money.
Brown becomes eligible in July for a two-year, $141.9 million contract extension. That’s a massive commitment. The Celtics have to decide if they want to pay him that kind of money – or if they’d rather pivot to Giannis.
The extension deadline creates urgency. Boston cannot afford to wait. They need to assess Brown’s frustrations, his fit with Tatum, and whether they believe this core can win another championship.
If the answer is no, trading Brown for Giannis becomes not just an option – but the only logical move.
The Giannis Timeline: Why This Summer Is Critical
Let’s look at the broader timeline.
Giannis has one year left on his contract after next season. He can become a free agent in 2027. The Bucks can offer him a massive extension this summer, but if he declines, his trade value plummets.
Milwaukee cannot afford to lose him for nothing. They will trade him this summer if they believe he’s leaving.
That means the Celtics have a narrow window. They need to act now, or Giannis will go somewhere else.
What Brad Stevens Has Said (And What He Hasn’t)
Let’s give Stevens his due.
He has publicly supported Brown. He said:
“He has not expressed those frustrations to me. Obviously I love JB. Everybody around here loves JB.”
That’s what you say in public. But Stevens is a pragmatist. He’s not sentimental. He traded for Derrick White. He traded for Kristaps Porzingis. He made bold moves when he thought they would help the team.
If Stevens believes that Giannis gives the Celtics a better chance to win than Brown, he will make the trade. Public comments won’t stop him.
The possibility of Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving Milwaukee is the biggest story of the offseason. And Kendrick Perkins believes the Boston Celtics should be the team to catch him.
“I want to see that smoke. Brad Stevens, he got a new haircut. That means he got a new vision. And I got a vision with them: Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
Perkins knows what it takes to win in Boston. He won a championship there. He understands the city’s hunger for titles.
Trading Jaylen Brown for Giannis would be painful. Brown is a star. He’s beloved. He’s a champion.
But Giannis is a top-3 player. He’s a two-time MVP. He’s a Finals MVP. He’s a defensive player of the year. And he could be the piece that puts the Celtics over the top.
The Celtics have the assets. They have the draft picks. They have the star power to make a competitive offer.
And they have a championship window that won’t stay open forever.
Jayson Tatum is 28. He’s in his prime. The Celtics need to maximize his years. Adding Giannis would do that.
So let the smoke rise. Let the speculation begin. And let Brad Stevens pick up the phone.
Because if Giannis Antetokounmpo is available, the Boston Celtics should be first in line.