NBA insider has Celtics on shortlist of teams to watch in possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
"Boston would be on that list. I think New York would be on that list"
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly exploring teams outside of Milwaukee that might be a better fit for him.
The Bucks haven’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2022, when the Celtics beat them in the conference semifinals.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there are a few teams that have enough assets to trade for Antetokounmpo and field a competitive team with him once the trade is complete.
The Celtics, he said, are one of them.
“I think you have to look at the teams that could make a trade for Giannis that the Bucks would accept and at the other side of the trade would have a contending team,” Windhorst said during a recent appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up”. “So, Boston would be on that list. I think New York would be on that list.”
“There’s some difficulties when you talk about aprons and second apron teams trying to make trades, and that’s a reality. But, there are some teams in the Eastern Conference you could construct an ability to get this done.”
For Antetokounmpo to push for a trade, the situation would presumably have to be better than the one he has in Milwaukee since he is under contract for the next three seasons.
The Bucks have underachieved in the playoffs for a while now, but they haven’t been awful.
They’ve won at least 48 games in each of the past four regular seasons since winning the championship in 2021. However, there has been a steady decline each season.
The Celtics, with Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum paired together could prove to be a formidable force with the right pieces around them. They would likely have to give up a mix of high-priced players and future assets to land Antetokounmpo.
The Spurs, who have 7-foot-3 French superstar Victor Wembanyama, have also been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Antetokounmpo, but Windhorst said Antetokounmpo will likely have a better shot at contending for a title in the Eastern Conference with a team like the Knicks or the Celtics.
“I’ve got to tell you, you have to compute what Giannis may want, and it’s not a commentary on Victor or the Spurs,” Windhorst said. “I’m listening to Chris Finch of the Timberwolves saying that next year he thinks 13 teams in the Western Conference may be trying to win and you could have a great season 42-40.”
“I didn’t disagree with him and I think Giannis will see that too. The move for Giannis, if he has the control, is to go to the East.”
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