The Milwaukee Bucks may finally part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the writing has been on the wall for quite some time. There's been plenty of speculation that the Boston Celtics might be his next team. However, in a position like this, the Bucks may not get the best deal possible, but they won't make it easy for anyone who wants him.
For that reason, it's quite possible Milwaukee may force a Giannis suitor like Boston to take Myles Turner back to get a trade done.
While listing Turner among the "Top Eastern Conference Targets," Heavy Sports' Sean Deveney speculates that any team that trades for Antetokounmpo may also have to take Turner back in the deal.
"This was a disaster move for the Bucks, but teams still value Turner. There’s been talk that the Bucks will send out Antetokounmpo and Turner in a package deal," Deveney wrote.
This coming season, Turner will make almost $26.6 million as he will enter the second year of a four-year, $109 million contract. He also has a 15% trade kicker. That's a hefty price to pay for a center that still divides audiences even to this day.
Turner was once someone who could have been a Celtic, as Indiana was dangling him in a potential Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade (Boston wanted more) before Hayward signed with Charlotte back in 2020. Six years later, Turner has gotten better, but it's not exactly an easy decision to add him.
On the one end, he's one year removed from being the starting center that came within inches of winning a title. His floor spacing, shot blocking, and presence as a lob threat are why he gets so much hype as a player.
Even then, he has spent most of his career in trade rumors (and that's not changing anytime soon) because while he has the look of a game-changer, he's never quite been one. To say Turner is a bad player would be wrong, but it wouldn't be right to call him as good of a player as his skills would have you believe.
Bringing him in wouldn't be the question though.
Celtics might have to decide if acquiring Giannis is worth absorbing Turner
Just so that we're clear, yes, Boston can make a trade work acquiring both Antetokounmpo and Turner. They can match the contracts for the former (Jaylen Brown alone works) while also utilizing the Anfernee Simons $27.7 million TPE. However, they can't straight-up absorb Turner, as they would have to send out Sam Hauser (at minimum) to make the swap work.
There's a compelling case for the Celtics to get Turner, just like there's a compelling case for them not to get him. Antetokounmpo being paired with a floor-spacing two-way big man has worked in the past, but Turner is being paid like a borderline All-Star, which is something he is not and never has been.
But if it means getting Antetokounmpo - after their worst playoff exit in five years - the Celtics may believe Turner's expensive contract would ironically be a small price to pay. If Boston 100% believes a move like that would get them another championship, it would be worth it in the end.
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