Giannis Antetokounmpo has come up a lot for the Boston Celtics since the offseason started. It's not just because he and the Milwaukee Bucks appear to be on the outs, but after Boston's humiliation last month, getting an upgrade like Giannis would be a comfort (on paper at least).
And yet, we're getting reports that the Celtics might not be so into the idea of acquiring the two-time MVP. Even weirder, there have been more reports indicating that he wants to join them. The Athletic's Sam Amick and Eric Nehm were the latest to report his interest in Boston.
So, despite the fact that Boston has some advantages in the Giannis bidding war, why is the feeling not mutual? The most common argument against a Giannis trade has been his recent injury history. That could play a part, but there might be something else: Boston doesn't want to take on a potential flight risk. Especially not at the cost of Jaylen Brown.
Antetokounmpo has developed a reputation for his undying loyalty over the years, but at 32 years old, he is also at the stage of his career where he wants to win titles. If he were to join forces with Jayson Tatum, that would put him back in the title conversation, but there's always the possibility it doesn't work out.
Tatum is one of the most adaptable superstars in the NBA, but Antetokounmpo has seen from experience that just because he's paired with one of the league's best doesn't automatically equate to success. He and Damian Lillard never quite figured it out because Dame didn't quite know how to be a second-in-command.
If Giannis and Tatum were to join forces, would they have the same problem? Optimists would tell you no, but both of them are accustomed to being the alpha dog that it'd be hard to see who would compromise for who.
And if Antetokounmpo were to leave, where would that leave the Celtics going forward? The answer, cruelly ironic enough, is with a lot of questions.
Celtics have been burned when trading for superstars
The last established superstar Boston got their hands on via trade was Kyrie Irving. Celtics fans still know full well how much of a disaster that was when it was all said and done, but even worse was that he left the Celtics in the dust.
Antetokounmpo is not nearly the same enigma that Irving was back then, but remember that it was easier for the Celtics to trade Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic (Celtics trivia!), and what would turn out to be Collin Sexton for Irving than it would be to trade Jaylen Brown for the Greek Freak.
Brown is a Celtics all-timer who has embraced Boston despite all the hardships. He helped lead the franchise to a title. He may not be Giannis, but he's still an excellent player in his prime with far less of an injury history. Maybe Boston doesn't want to mess with that for someone who could leave if things don't work out.
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