Boston Celtics
The Celtics were among several playoff teams that reportedly pursued the two-time MVP.
Giannis Antetokounmpo cheers the Bucks during a game against the 76ers on April 12, 2026. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
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The Celtics remained quiet during the trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean they stayed completely away from pursuing big names.
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics were among several playoff teams that tried to land Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in February.
The Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers all reportedly pursued Antetokounmpo.
According to Charania, the way those teams finish the playoffs will play a “major” role in how aggressive they are in any upcoming pursuits this summer.
Charania used the words “open for business” to describe where the Bucks are at in terms of fielding trade calls for Antetokounmpo.
Meanwhile, the Celtics have some soul-searching to do after their third playoff collapse in four years. The Celtics won a title in 2024, but they’ve failed to make it past the second round in each of the last two seasons.
During his end-of-the-season press conference, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said that the Celtics need to add to their team in order to get where they want to go. He specifically said that the Celtics need to find ways to impact the rim in order to add variance to their shot selection.
Antetokunmpo is one of the premier paint scorers in the NBA. He has shot better than 60 percent from the field over each of the last three seasons. He led the league in points in the paint per game at 18.7 last season.
The Celtics, as a team, were 27th in the league in points in the paint during the regular season at 44.3 per game. They led the league in 3-point attempts.
Acquiring Antetokounmpo would require the Celtics to move significant amounts of salary and potentially some draft assets.
The market for Antetokounmpo is expected to be “robust”, according to ESPN with the Bucks looking to land a blue chip talent or lots of draft picks in return.
Antetoukounmpo, 31, has two years left on his current contract. He is scheduled to make $58 million next season. Jayson Tatum’s and Jaylen Brown’s salaries will both be close to that number.
Antetokunmpo is a two-time league MVP and a ten-time All-Star. He has played the entirety of his career with the Bucks so far, but is now considering other options after a string of playoff disappointments.
Milwaukee has not made it past the first round since 2022 and they missed the playoffs altogether this year. Milwaukee and coach Doc Rivers have since parted ways.
Bucks co-owner Wes Edens told ESPN in March that Antetokunmpo will either sign a contract extension with the franchise or be traded. As of right now, the sides remain relatively far apart according to Charania.
“Nothing has changed in Antetokounmpo’s stance that the time has come for both sides to move on, sources said,” Charania wrote.
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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