Boston Celtics
“I don’t think he’s going to be a Celtic and that’s just from what I’m hearing,” The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn said.
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo warming up before a game in March, 2026. AP Photo/Aaron Gash
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As the deadline for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade draws nearer, the Celtics have frequently come up as a possible suitor.
However, another Eastern Conference team is ahead of Boston in the chase for the Bucks star, Boston Globe NBA columnist Gary Washburn said during an appearance on NBC Sports Boston.
“I don’t think he’s going to be a Celtic and that’s just from what I’m hearing,” Washburn said. “I think the Celtics are gauging what it would take to get Giannis to Boston and trying to figure out whether they want to move Jaylen Brown, and if there’s rumors that Jaylen has been moved and he hears that all summer what kind of mentality would he have coming into next season, which is critical for this franchise.”
“I do think Miami has the edge on this, but I do think Boston is kind of sniffing around and finding out: Could you even acquire Giannis without sacrificing Jaylen? That would be a big question. What exactly is Milwaukee looking for?”
Washburn said the Celtics would probably need to get a third team involved to complete such a trade.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said that the franchise plans to make a decision before next week’s NBA Draft.
Haslam also owns the Cleveland Browns, which traded future-hall-of-famer Myles Garrett to the Rams for two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse and picks.
While that trade happened in a completely different sport, there has been speculation that the Bucks could be in the market for a package involving an all-star caliber player and draft picks.
Brown is a multi-time All-Star and a former Finals MVP. His salary matches up with Antetkounmpo’s, making such a trade financially feasible.
But, questions remain as to whether the Celtics would be inclined to break up Brown and Jayson Tatum in order to acquire Antetokounmpo.
“I don’t think the chances are that he’s coming here and I don’t think that the Celtics shopping Jaylen Brown in this deal,” Washburn said. “I think they’re trying to figure out how to get him without Jaylen.”
Washburn said it could be difficult for the Celtics to find out how Tatum and Antetokounmpo mesh together.
“I think Jaylen and Jayson still have unfinished business,” Washburn said. “I think they still have work to do.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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