As ESPN's Shams Charania reported, Milwaukee Bucks' co-owner, Jimmy Haslam, has declared that a resolution with Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming before the draft on Jun. 23 and 24. When the dust settles, there's a legitimate possibility that the two-time league MVP is a member of the Boston Celtics.
What's known is that the 10-time All-Star would like to play for a title contender in the Eastern Conference next season. How open, if at all, he is to heading to one in the West instead is anyone's guess. However, since he can opt out of his contract after the 2026-27 campaign, he can be as stubborn as he wants about what uniform he'll don next year. According to Charania, the expectation is that the Bucks hold firm on their trade deadline demand: A young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft capital. Teams aren't paying that price for a one-year rental.
Antetokounmpo flirted with the New York Knicks last offseason. However, if he's open to the following possibility, then that's not the Celtics' top threat in the East to acquire him.
The Detroit Pistons loom large in the Giannis sweepstakes
It's a franchise receiving minimal mention amid the speculation about where the nine-time All-NBA selection will play next. However, they could offer Jalen Duren, via a sign-and-trade, along with Ausar Thompson and draft picks to facilitate a deal.
The "Motor City" might not be the market Antetokounmpo is envisioning himself in. However, the combination of him and Cade Cunningham could entice him to sign an extension in Detroit. The Pistons would still need shooting, but they'd have a potent pairing to build around.
Maybe Boston is willing to trade Jaylen Brown to add Antetokounmpo to its pursuit of banner 19. If so, rather than Milwaukee bringing the 29-year-old former Finals MVP on board a rudderless ship, the Bucks may prefer he goes elsewhere in a multi-team construct.
For example, the Celtics could send Brown to his hometown Atlanta Hawks, who in turn would help supply Milwaukee with the return necessary to trade the face of its franchise to Boston.
Keep in mind that at his end-of-season press conference, Brad Stevens stated the organization's decision-makers will "get together and determine the best course of action for building the best team that we can, that's also sustainable over a long period," adding, "We just have to be better around the margins."
He also noted the need to find an external solution to make a greater impact at the rim. However, if you take his comments about improving on the margins and building a sustainable contender at face value, then you likely don't believe the C's are about to split up their franchise cornerstones.
If not, should Antetokounmpo get his wish, then they'll have to go through another Eastern Conference contender that added him to their pursuit of the Larry O'Brien Trophy. If the Pistons are willing to part with Duren, Thompson, and picks, and the Bucks' star forward will accept a trade there, then it's fair to deem Detroit the favorite to emerge as the winner of this sweepstakes.
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