The biggest mystery in the basketball world over the past week or so has been about where Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will suit up next season. While it’s not a complete mystery, as we know it’ll likely be either for the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat, no one seems to know which side is more likely.
One hour, it’s going to be Boston. The next, Giannis is heading to Miami. It’s a pattern we’d all better get used to in this week leading up to Milwaukee’s self-imposed NBA Draft deadline, which part-owner Jimmy Haslem made public at Taylor Jenkins’ introductory press conference last month.
For now, the saga is seemingly at a standstill. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports that the Bucks aren’t moved by Miami’s offer, consisting of Tyler Herro, the No. 13 overall pick in this year’s draft, and other rotation pieces.
“The Bucks seem to not be in love with the Heat's offer(s) and continue to discuss trade packages with other teams, team sources say,” Windhorst wrote on Tuesday. “That said, Miami has been able to improve what it can offer since the trade deadline and can send a package headlined by the No. 13 pick in next week's draft plus various rotation players, namely Wisconsin native Tyler Herro, and prospects.”
The ball is in the Celtics' court for a Giannis trade
The great thing about competing against the Miami Heat in a bidding war is that they’re going to roll out the same trade package every single time. How many times over the past several years have we heard that it’s Herro and other stuff whenever the “watch out for the Heat” reports surface?
More than anything, Windhorst’s latest tells us all that Miami hasn’t been motivated to add to their offer, and that if the Celtics decide that they’re going to go in on Antetokounmpo, they’ll easily be able to outbid the Heat.
Several reports on the situation indicate that if Boston offers up Jaylen Brown then it’ll be enough. Though, to this point, many with knowledge of the situation have stressed that they have yet to do so.
It’s mathematically possible to match Antetokounmpo’s salary without including Brown in a trade. Derrick White, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchard would get the Celtics there.
The issue with that scenario is that Milwaukee would need tons of picks from Boston to feel like they’ve gotten a proper return for their franchise centerpiece. Plus, depth is important in today’s NBA.
Gutting the rest of their roster to go all-in on Brown, Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum is fun on paper, but may not work in practice.
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