With the NBA Draft just days away, you’d think we’re finally nearing a conclusion in this neverending GIannis Antetokounmpo saga, but it doesn’t feel that way. The rumors keep coming, and they don’t really make it sound like the Bucks are anywhere close to pulling off a trade for the two-time MVP.
On Friday night, Jake Fischer reported on Marc Stein’s Substack that the word he keeps hearing from sources around the league about the Bucks’ asking price is “unrealistic”. That would certainly help explain why there has been no resolution in this situation, and also why the Celtics have been growing frustrated.
Sam Amick reported earlier in the week that Boston would like to swap Jaylen Brown for Giannis in a one-for-one swap, and in this latest Fischer piece, he added that “the Celtics are said to be reluctant to surrender much more packaged with Brown.”
Celtics hesitant to offer much more than Jaylen Brown
Now, we don’t know exactly what “much more” entails. They could offer the 27th pick in Tuesday night’s draft, three future firsts, future swaps, and possibly young players like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh.
Based on Fischer’s reporting that the Bucks’ ask is unrealistic and that “Milwaukee has been asking teams for returns that would leave any club acquiring Antetokounmpo too barren to contend for a championship”, it’s reasonable to assume that the Bucks are asking for quite a bit more on top of just Jaylen.
And if that’s the case, Brad Stevens and the Celtics are smart to be firm, because based on everything we’ve heard, they’d essentially be bidding against themselves. Maybe the Bucks are willing to pull Giannis off the table and keep him if they don’t like any offers, or maybe they’re fine with just taking Miami’s pupu platter of role players and late picks, but if I’m Brad, I’m fine with calling their bluff.
Jaylen Brown is easily the best player and/or asset we’ve heard mentioned in a potential Giannis deal with any credibility. We haven’t heard of a top-10 pick or a blue-chip prospect being on the table either. We also know that teams like the Blazers and Hawks are interested in JB, and both could send Milwaukee some of its own picks, plus promising youth.
Celtics likely have the best Giannis offer on the table
It doesn’t seem like the Heat, or any other interested team (if there even are any), can beat the package that the Celtics can offer, so why up the offer? Are the Bucks really going to turn to their fans and say, ‘Hey look! We got Tyler Herro and the 13th pick for the best Buck ever!’ I find it hard to believe. Clearly, Brad does as well.
Brown is a Finals MVP and an All-NBA performer in his prime. If the Bucks don’t want that, they could see him go to another team for premium draft capital and young recent top picks like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Zaccharie Riscacher, and Jonathan Kuminga.
If Boston has to throw in a pick or a player just to grease the wheels and get this over the finish line, so be it. But there’s no reason to mortgage the future, or, as Fischer put it, leave themselves too barren to contend, when there’s no other team out there with a compelling offer. Maybe the Bucks really do stand firm or accept a worse deal, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
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