The Boston Celtics are absolutely capable of pulling off a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo this upcoming offseason.
Though the Boston Celtics are still in the running for the 2020 Larry O’Brien trophy, as they are set for an Eastern Conference Finals date with the Miami Heat, this hasn’t stopped the offseason buzz from circulating across the NBA’s landscape.
Virtually every publication — including ourselves — and media figure is guilty of participating in concocting hypothetical offseason scenarios ranging from potential free agency signings, draft selections, and, our most favorite past time, offseason trades.
While the open market in 2020 doesn’t look to be too noteworthy, it is the plethora of top talents that could potentially find themselves on the block that has seemingly every NBA fan figuring out ways to get their favorite stars on their favorite teams.
Undoubtedly the biggest name to be found within this category is the NBA’s reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. It has been a popular fad virtually all season for league experts and analysts to pinpoint some “realistic” landing spots for the superstar should he want out of Milwaukee.
With the team’s recent second-round ouster from the playoffs (lost to Miami in five games) this rumor-mill has received added momentum, as now every sports publication has jumped in and have given their spin on how things could play out between Giannis and the Bucks and, if things grow sour, where the All-World talent might end up.
As you’re already probably aware, we took part in this experiment to decipher how the Boston Celtics could potentially get their hands on the perennial All-Star and concocted two trades in the process. While we have often deemed the idea of him donning the green and white threads anytime soon as unlikely, according to Danny Leroux of The Athletic, the shamrocks may actually have more of a chance at acquiring him than previously thought.
"A surprisingly under-the-radar destination considering their current success and young talent, the Boston Celtics absolutely have the assets to make a deal happen. Presumably Jayson Tatum is off the table, but Danny Ainge could make Jaylen Brown the centerpiece and add in a variety of young talent and/or capable veterans, depending on what the Bucks want. Additionally, the Celtics can offer to use Gordon Hayward’s expiring contract as a tool to take on undesirable long-term money, though that would get intensely expensive for their ownership down the line."
This season, Antetokounmpo has surprisingly improved from his career-best season in 2018-19, as he finished the year boasting averages of 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, one steal, and one block on 55 percent shooting from the floor. Due to his excellent performance, the forward was voted to his fourth consecutive All-Star game, won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and, in all likelihood, is on his way to his second consecutive Most Valuable Player award.
What say you Cs fans? Should Boston pursue “the Greek Freak” this offseason? Should they stand pat and gradually build around their top trio of Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Jaylen Brown?
Whatever your thoughts may be, we’d love to read about them in the comments section bellow.