The Boston Celtics-Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors have been revived and are now alive and well! Even with all the rumors suggesting he may join the Miami Heat, Jaylen Brown being on the table gives Boston an insurmountable edge. If they pull the trigger, it also makes it clear Boston has had the edge on Pat Riley when chasing the same target for some time now.
Not to bring up bad memories, but Riley definitely made it personal when he convinced Ray Allen to desert Boston for South Beach. Granted, it was clear Allen had an axe to grind with Rajon Rondo and was fed up, but even so, Riley knew exactly how deep that stab wound would be.
But since then, Boston's front office has gotten the edge on Miami when chasing the big fish. This started in 2017, when the Celtics got their hands on Gordon Hayward. Those who remember that whole ordeal more or less remember taking him from the Utah Jazz, but many forget that Miami was in those sweepstakes too.
Boston got in Miami's way yet again several years later. Following the fallout of the Damian Lillard trade in 2023, which the Heat badly fumbled, the Heat tried to make up for it by getting Jrue Holiday. However, Brad Stevens and co. beat Riley to the punch. Look where that got them!
It's even the little things. Know what many forget about Sam Hauser? Miami wanted him back in 2021, but Brad Stevens convinced him to join Boston. Look how it worked out for all sides!
The Heat have a pretty impressive history of luring in some fantastic players, but that hasn't been the case in some time now. If Boston is dangling Jaylen Brown, it's hard to think of how they could top that.
Riley got Celtics targets, but only by sheer luck
Again, Riley and the Heat wooed Ray Allen, but the stars kind of aligned for that because, on top of what was mentioned above, he wanted another ring before he hung it up, and he got it. Besides that, Riley and the Heat have gotten players the Celtics wanted, but only because of lottery luck.
Boston narrowly avoided what would have been a disaster, but remember when they desperately tried to get Justise Winslow in 2015? They were willing to trade the farm to Charlotte to get him with the No. 9 pick, but the Hornets said no, letting Winslow go to the Heat. After what transpired, it's fair to say Boston didn't lose much sleep over that.
2019 was a different story when Miami got Tyler Herro by simply winning the coin flip they had with Boston in the lottery. The Heat got Tyler Herro out of it, which may have swung the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals. Even so, that was more out of luck.
There's no telling what will happen with Antetokounmpo. If the Celtics are in on him, it's hard to think how they couldn't take him. If they don't, it's because they don't think he's worth the risk. The bottom line is that they have Riley beat again if they want to, so if they do, it seems to be a habit at this point.
Add us as a preferred source on Google