Giannis Antetokounmpo’s intrigue in Celtics ‘is actual’

Boston Celtics

“The respect for Joe Mazzulla, the way in which he may see that roster … I feel it is value watching.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s commerce rumors appear to evolve weekly, however two groups have been linked to the previous NBA champion and league MVP greater than any others: the Boston Celtics and Miami Warmth.

Since commerce rumors initially picked up early within the offseason, it’s believed that Antetokounmpo’s most well-liked commerce vacation spot is a title contender within the Jap Convention. Outdoors of the apparent Knicks, who’re up 2-0 within the NBA Finals, there are a handful of groups that match that invoice: Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Orlando may very well be thought-about in that tier of Jap Convention groups.

Nonetheless, most groups which have the property to commerce for Antetokounmpo would wish to intestine the higher components of their lineup with the intention to make a authorized commerce occur, and that might make them much less more likely to be contenders.

That’s the benefit Boston seemingly possesses over nearly each different crew Antetokounmpo can be prepared to play for: its roster wouldn’t be depleted within the technique of buying the ‘Greek Freak’.

Talking on the Dan Patrick Present, The Athletic’s Sam Amick mentioned the rumors of Antetokounmpo to the Celtics have some critical traction, not less than on Antetokounmpo’s finish.

“Miami is the loudest noise, you proceed to listen to that … sure, it seems all people you speak to says Miami on the deadline had a deal that was shut,” Amick mentioned. “So the noise is tied to Miami, however there’s additionally some understanding that Giannis has questions on what that Miami roster would seem like on the opposite facet of the deal.

“I feel the Celtics are a fairly intriguing possibility by way of being aggressive,” Amick added. “That is one thing we’ve heard from Giannis’s facet that the intrigue is actual. The respect for Joe Mazzulla, the way in which that he may see that roster. Do I feel it modifications issues? I don’t know but. However I feel it’s value watching.”

The seemingly apparent piece for Boston to ship again, whether or not to the Bucks or a 3rd concerned crew, is Jaylen Brown. Brown has an identical contract to Antetokounmpo’s, and is a high quality sufficient participant that he may very well be the one participant the Celtics commerce away within the deal, giving them loads of runway to compete for a championship within the aftermath.

So, from a wage cap-balancing perspective, the commerce may very well be carried out simply. However Boston could have different components to think about. Does the match with Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum collectively make sense and can it result in a greater title shot? And, even when Brad Stevens thinks it’s, does it make sense to commerce away your longest tenured participant who has already confirmed he can win a championship alongside Tatum.

Brown’s title has been dangled in a couple of totally different rumored commerce situations over the previous couple of offseasons, however no different event has had this a lot traction behind it.

And for the Bucks, buying and selling Antetokounmpo seems to be a near-certainty at this juncture.

“It appears very possible … it’s not typically you will have an proprietor publicly framing the timeline, and that’s what Jimmy Haslem did. We simply noticed Jimmy Haslem do a blockbuster commerce with Myles Garrett within the NFL, displaying he’s actually prepared to tug that set off if he must. I do count on it to occur.”

So the Warmth and Celtics, who’ve constructed fairly a fierce rivalry within the twenty first century, and particularly with their current playoff clashes, will probably be pitted in opposition to one another as soon as extra. This time, Antetokounmpo is up for grabs.

Stevens entered the offseason saying he’d do every thing in his energy to make Boston a extra aggressive crew and produce them one other championship. He additionally mentioned he’d take a dunk over a 3-pointer on each possession if he may. If he lands Antetokounmpo, he simply may get each his needs.