In an exclusive interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo made his intentions crystal clear -- for the moment.
"There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, 'I want a trade,'" Antetokounmpo, who can opt out of his contract in the summer of 2027, told The Athletic. "That's not … in … my … nature. OK?"
Those comments from the two-time NBA MVP came on the heels of Milwaukee's 120-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors. They also require an understanding of how the Bucks are operating, a context that Antetokounmpo reiterated.
"If Giannis doesn't ask for a trade, we're not trading him," so what does that tell you?" He relayed regarding the organization's stance on its star's future.
Some may look at the Bucks, residing in 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, on the outside looking in at the play-in tournament, and think the best move is to trade a 31-year-old nine-time All-NBA selection.
Understandably, the franchise views it differently. What Milwaukee gets back for him could usher in irrelevance. What it has now is a box office star. One that has built a bond with the city. They understand they may see Antetokounmpo wearing another team's uniform in the near future. However, their hopes align with those of the organization.
Both sides would prefer to stick together. They'll have to build a winner for that to happen.
How Giannis staying with the Bucks impacts the Celtics
One must respect the fluidity of the situation in Milwaukee. Even with Antetokounmpo telling The Athletic, "my plan is to be here for the rest of my career," that could change in an instant. If the Bucks go into a tailspin between now and the trade deadline, perhaps he'll change his stance by Feb. 5.
However, that seems unlikely. The nine-time All-Star staying put would be great news for the Boston Celtics.
Why? Because two of the teams most commonly linked to Antetokounmpo are the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat. At the moment, Boston's capable of contending in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
If Antetokounmpo ends up joining forces with Jalen Brunson in "The Big Apple," that likely changes. The idea of the Knicks finally pulling off a splashy superstar acquisition, only to see the Celtics avenge last season's upset, reads more like a Hollywood script than a spoiler for what's to come in the playoffs.
The idea of Jayson Tatum standing tall at Madison Square Garden, on the floor where he was pondering his future after tearing his Achilles, is poetic. However, if it happens, it may require more patience than a year's wait, especially if Antetokounmpo enters the equation this season.
The former Finals MVP taking his talents to South Beach could also prove devastating to Boston. He and Bam Adebayo could represent a physical force. His arrival could also attract another top talent to Miami.
Antetokounmpo staying in Milwaukee, which appears to be the case, at least for the duration of the current campaign, is best for the Celtics.
As the Bucks work to keep the face of their franchise, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported in December, "One rival general manager I spoke to went so far as to say that the Bucks have convinced him that 'they're going big-game hunting.'"
While Trae Young is now off the table after Wednesday's trade to the Washington Wizards, other fallen stars could be available. Milwaukee's best bet to make a declaration like that to Antetokounmpo come to fruition is pulling off a deal for a high-end talent who it could potentially acquire at a discount.
Two individuals who come to mind are Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. However, even if that happens, as potent a pairing as Antetokounmpo and Williamson could be, it's a better outcome for the Celtics than seeing "The Greek Freak" join the Knicks.