At this point, it feels like we get a new update on the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga every day as the Bucks’ self-mandated deadline of the June 23rd NBA Draft grows closer. We’ve been hearing about mutual interest between Giannis and the Heat for ages, but the Celtics have been lurking in the shadows, especially since losing in round one to the 76ers.
We’ve been hearing that Giannis views Boston as a preferred destination and that he wants to stay in the East and go to a contender, but until recently, we hadn’t heard that the Celtics shared that interest.
That changed on Wednesday night as Bill Simmons reported the Celtics are back in on Giannis, with multiple outlets backing up that reporting. We got another key piece of information on Friday as Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported that league sources indicate that the Greek Freak would be willing to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Celtics.
The extension is one of the biggest barriers for teams that are considering making a run at Giannis. He has just one guaranteed season remaining on his contract, before a player option for 2027-28. Without confidence that Giannis will re-sign, teams run the risk of trading for a one-year rental, which is likely disqualifying for most potential trade partners considering what they’d have to give up to acquire the two-time MVP.
Giannis committing to Boston makes things hard for Brad Stevens
Now that we know Giannis wants to play in Boston and would extend to stay with the team for at last five years, things are even tougher for Brad Stevens and the decision-makers. Sure, there are some concerns with Antetokounmpo, like his recent injuries and how he may age into his late 30s.
But we’re talking about a top-five player in the league who’s still squarely in his prime. If the Celtics can essentially flip Jaylen Brown for Giannis, which seems very much a possibility, they certainly have to consider that long and hard.
Parting with the 2024 Finals MVP and an all-time Celtics great and fan favorite in JB could be demoralizing for the franchise, and breaking up the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown pairing would be very risky considering the incredible levels of success they’ve achieved together is a huge risk.
But if it’s a near one-for-one swap and the payoff is pairing Giannis with Tatum for the duo’s respective primes without sacrificing significant draft capital, young players, or depth, this is a decision that will keep Stevens and Celtics fans everywhere up at night until a deal is done.
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