In a shocking turn of events, the Boston Celtics are now betting favorites to pull off a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this offseason.
The Celtics were never viewed as a legitimate Giannis trade suitor when the Milwaukee Bucks initially shopped their two-time MVP before the February trade deadline; teams like the New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors were viewed as more likely landing spots. However, Boston’s unexpected first-round series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers—coupled with the Knicks’ deep postseason run—has seemingly turned the Giannis trade market on its head.
Polymarket currently has the Celtics as the most likely destination for Antetokounmpo, followed by the Bucks and Dallas Mavericks — the latter in large part due to new president Masai Ujiri’s longstanding relationship with 2021 NBA Finals MVP.
Kalshi Hoops also recently gave the Celtics the best odds of landing Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Trade to Celtics Rumors
Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney highlighted this week that Celtics front office boss Brad Stevens has never been afraid to swing for the fences.
“Would team prez Brad Stevens really break up the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown tandem?” asked the NBA insider. “If the Antetokounmpo rumors play out, Brown would have to go. He has never had more value than he does now, and Stevens has shown he will be aggressive when the chips are down.”
Although Stevens recently squashed chatter of Jaylen Brown’s reported “frustrations” with the franchise, several insiders believe the Celtics would be willing to trade the 2024 NBA Finals MVP for Antetokounmpo — if given the opportunity. In 2022, Stevens reportedly offered Brown and Derrick White to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal for Kevin Durant, less than a month after the Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. The C’s also reportedly tried to trade Brown for Kawhi Leonard in 2018.
Will Celtics Trade Jaylen Brown?
Ultimately, Boston’s pathway to Giannis could hinge on Brown and the Celtics deciding to part ways after their 10-year marriage. Earlier this month, insider Marc Stein called the Celtics “a team to keep an eye on” in the Giannis trade sweepstakes.
“There will inevitably be people who bring back the, ‘Do they break up Tatum and (Jaylen) Brown’ — like, that storyline will probably come back,” Stein said, via NESN.
“There have been some rumblings at various points during the season that the Celtics could be a stealth Giannis team and a team that potentially interests Giannis. So let’s keep our eye on the Celtics. We know Brad Stevens is not afraid to make big moves and take big swings. So I think we have to be ready for just about anything with Boston.”
Interestingly, ESPN’s Shams Charania also earmarked the Celtics as “a stealth” suitor this month when he revealed the franchise made an offer for the “Greek Freak” ahead of the February deadline. At the time, Warriors, Heat and Timberwolves were considered the finalists in the sweepstakes, with the Knicks reportedly bowing out of the race.
Besides Jaylen Brown, the Celtics can potentially offer three first-round picks (2027, 2031 and 2033) to the Bucks in a potential Giannis trade.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Celtics Receive Significant Giannis News as Trade Market Opens appeared first on HEAVY.