Whether you believe the Celtics should set off summer fireworks by acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, or you feel it's a gamble they're better off not making, there's one aspect of this conversation that most are likely to agree on. Any deal should not result in Myles Turner accompanying the two-time MVP to Boston.
Yes, the Celtics could conveniently absorb his $26.6 million contract utilizing the $27.7 million traded-player exception [TPE], created when they sent Anfernee Simons to the Bulls. Furthermore, the franchise is, of course, expected to exercise a club option that will keep Neemias Queta on the roster for under $3 million next season.
One can justify a scenario where it's the inverse of a traditional dynamic, with the backup on a lucrative agreement while the starter is on a very team-friendly deal. Arriving on a new team after a down year, coming off the bench, Turner probably wouldn't pose a threat to team chemistry. Pairing him with Queta is also quite appealing. The former lottery pick knocked down 38.3 percent of the 5.4 threes he hoisted last season. The two-time league-leader in blocks also swatted 1.6 shots per game.
If you're strictly looking at this through the lens of bringing him on board via the TPE and creating a complementary center combination, one can talk themselves into acquiring him and Antetokounmpo. However, there are more factors at play.
Why the Celtics shouldn't absorb Myles Turner's contract
If Boston is willing to offer Jaylen Brown, then that figures to be the best offer on the Bucks' table. Even if the state of their roster means he goes elsewhere, such as the Hawks, the return for a player who was in the MVP conversation should top their alternatives.
In that scenario, agreeing to take a large, undesirable contract off Milwaukee's hands is excessive. It's a waste of a TPE that represents a valuable roster-building tool.
The Celtics don't have room to acquire Antetokounmpo and absorb Turner's deal without parting with Brown. The Bucks' starting center is also on the books for $27.9 million for the 2027-28 campaign. He has a player option worth $29.1 million for the following year, his age-32 season, per Spotrac. That's a bad contract to take on, especially at a position where, as evidenced by Queta, Boston can find a quality option for a fraction of the price.
Making the best offer and then agreeing to relieve Milwaukee of its worst contract is unnecessary. Utilizing the franchise's largest TPE this way means missing out on more valuable ways to build a team that would have shaved off years of its title window by trading Brown for Antetokounmpo.
If the Celtics decide they're willing to take on the risks that come with a superstar in his 30s with durability concerns, they can justify it. After all, this is still one of the best players and most dominant forces in the sport. However, they likely don't need to absorb Turner's contract to get him. Under this more punitive and less forgiving collective bargaining agreement, there isn't room on Boston's books for a contractual anchor like this to weigh them down.
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