Overview
- NBA insider Chris Haynes told listeners on Wednesday that he has not heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s camp name the Boston Celtics as a linked or preferred trade destination.
- Milwaukee has told teams it wants a resolution before the June draft and is seeking a top-tier return, keeping pressure on contenders to present a young star and/or multiple first-round assets.
- Boston would likely need to persuade Giannis to sign an extension after a trade and would probably have to use Jaylen Brown as the centerpiece to meet Milwaukee’s asking price.
- Reporting and betting markets continue to favor the Miami Heat and other Eastern contenders as more realistic landing spots than Boston if Giannis is traded.
- Any deal must navigate NBA salary-matching rules and limits on trading future first-round picks, and Giannis’s limited guaranteed years heighten the importance of an extension conversation.