Giannis Trade Coming Soon? What The Latest Reporting Means For Celtics

Giannis trade coming soon? What the latest reporting means for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Let the Summer of Giannis begin.

The Milwaukee Bucks are “open for business” on receiving trade offers for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

And it sounds like the Boston Celtics –fresh off blowing a 3-1 first-round series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers — could be in the mix for Antetokounmpo’s services.

There’s been plenty of reporting and discourse around Antetokounmpo’s future over the last several weeks, culminating with Charania’s latest insights. So here’s a breakdown of when a deal might be consummated (if it happens), which teams could be involved and what it all means for the Celtics.

When might a Giannis trade happen?

There’s no secret here: In a press conference last week, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters he’d like Antetokounmpo’s future settled before the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins June 23.

“I just think before the draft is a natural time,” Haslam said. “Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we’ve got to have a lot of assets.”

Blockbuster trades rarely happen until after the NBA Finals, as clubs typically want the option of negotiating with every other team for leverage purposes. This year’s finals could end as early as June 10 (Game 4) and as late as June 19 (Game 7).

So, if a Giannis trade goes down, it will likely be sometime between June 10 and June 23.

Which teams could be involved in Giannis trade discussions?

Charania noted the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are both expected to pursue Antetokounmpo this offseason.

Charania also added that playoff teams such as the Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers all had interest in Antetokounmpo ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline in February, and that how those teams finish in this year’s playoffs “will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for Antetokounmpo.”

Boston, of course, is the only team on that list that lost in the first round. So, perhaps that means Brad Stevens and Co. are more aggressive in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo this summer.

Another wrinkle: Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to sign an extension with his future team and may have some leverage in choosing his desired destination.

“The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved and where will he sign long term?” a source told Charania.

Will the Celtics be a legitimate suitor for Giannis?

It certainly appears that way.

Antetokounmpo clearly has respect for the Celtics and recently praised their ability to maintain success this past season despite losing several key members of their rotation in the offseason.

“Everything about my decision is based on winning; culture,” Antetokounmpo told Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in April. “Like, you saw I talked with [Boston] coach Joe Mazzulla. I said, ‘You had so many opportunities to make excuses, but you didn’t.'”

The Celtics also have a need for a player like Antetokounmpo. In his end-of-season press conference, Stevens expressed a desire to have “more of an impact at the rim,” and Giannis fits that mold on both ends as a former Defensive Player of the Year who leads the NBA in dunks per game over the past two seasons.

Any Celtics trade for Antetokounmpo likely would involve dealing Jaylen Brown, which would be a monumental move that the franchise would have to weigh carefully. But at the very least, it seems like Stevens and Co. are leaving all options on the table after a premature playoff exit.