Celtics Eye Giannis Antetokounmpo Amid Roster Changes

BOSTON, Massachusetts — The Boston Celtics are reportedly eyeing a potential trade for two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason as they prepare to offload key players from their roster. This speculation arises after the Milwaukee Bucks‘ disappointing playoff performance, where they suffered their third consecutive first-round exit.

NBA insider Brian Windhorst discussed these developments on ESPN’s “Get Up,” stating that Antetokounmpo might prefer staying in the Eastern Conference given its competitive landscape. “If I was Giannis and I’m looking at the lay of the land right now, I want to stay in the Eastern Conference,” Windhorst said. He mentioned that both Boston and New York could be viable trade partners for the Bucks.

The Celtics will need to navigate significant financial hurdles to acquire Antetokounmpo, who is contracted for two more years with a player option. His 2025-26 salary reaches $54.1 million, making it challenging for Boston to sustain multiple high-value contracts, especially with Jayson Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury.

As it stands, Boston’s current roster is expected to be the most expensive in NBA history, with the starting five alone set to cost $198.4 million. Windhorst acknowledged the difficulty of a potential Antetokounmpo trade following Tatum’s injury but noted that possibilities still exist: “I think Boston was more interesting before the devastating Tatum injury, but it still could be done.”

Antetokounmpo recently continued to demonstrate elite performance, averaging 30.4 points and 11.9 rebounds in the regular season, alongside a stellar playoff showing of 33.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. Any trade package from Boston is likely to include star player Jaylen Brown, as it is nearly impossible to maintain three contracts over $50 million.

Brown, who has previously played alongside Antetokounmpo, commands a salary of $53.1 million in the upcoming season. Celtics insider Chris Forsberg pointed out that trading Tatum or Brown would be a necessary move, creating complications due to Boston’s standing as a second-apron team, meaning they have restrictions on salary cap management.

Despite the challenges, fans and analysts alike are captivated by the potential of pairing Antetokounmpo with Tatum in Boston, suggesting that if the Celtics can navigate their financial restrictions effectively, they could emerge as a top contender next season, invigorating their quest for an NBA championship.