Boston Celtics
“The Celtics did examine, they usually did make a name.”
As Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ high brass proceed to weigh their choices forward of a possible roster reshuffle this offseason, Boston’s potential pursuit of Bucks celebrity Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t appear to be going away any time quickly.
After years of underperformance, the Bucks are reportedly keen to take calls on the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo, who might be flipped for the property, draft picks, and gamers to assist spur Milwaukee towards a retool.
Even with the Celtics seemingly constructing their roster round each Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston is leaving no stone unturned in hopes of maximizing its present ceiling within the subsequent few years — with ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reporting last week that Boston was amongst a number of playoff groups that attempted to accumulate Antetokounmpo in February earlier than the NBA commerce deadline.
Talking on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Present” on Monday, Charania added that the Celtics’ curiosity in prying Antetokounmpo out of Milwaukee ought to solely proceed to develop this offseason now that the Bucks have proven a willingness to half methods with their franchise ahead.
Nonetheless, Charania added that a number of different groups, together with the Timberwolves, Warmth, Lakers, Cavaliers, and Knicks, additionally stay within the hunt for Antetokounmpo this summer time.
“The Celtics did examine, they usually did make a name,” Charania stated of Boston’s commerce discussions for Antetokounmpo. “They did have a stage of curiosity, and I believe that’s going to proceed into this low season, however they’ve by no means gotten into the particulars — as a result of it takes two to tango.
“You’re not simply going to supply up a participant that it’d take to get a deal performed with out there being curiosity from the opposite facet. So, these are all issues to be decided … Does Milwaukee really feel like their greatest provide goes to return from a Minnesota, a Miami, or another group? And that’s what we’re going to search out out over the subsequent few weeks.”
Regardless that Antetokounmpo turns 32 in December and missed a majority of final season with a number of accidents, the two-time NBA MVP would nonetheless characterize a big improve in Boston’s frontcourt — even when it may cost Brown as a part of a blockbuster swap.
Throughout this final full season in 2024-25 with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 factors, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per sport.
Antetokounmpo’s distinctive profile as an athletic equalizer who can each defend the rim and throw down dunks down the opposite finish of the courtroom would seemingly match into what Stevens is prioritizing this offseason by way of extra manufacturing within the paint.
“We’ve bought to determine a solution to do higher in that,” Stevens said earlier this month Boston’s struggles with converting on baskets down low in the playoffs. “And I believe that one of many issues that we’ve bought to determine is the right way to have extra of an impression on the rim. And I believe we do want so as to add to our group to do this.”
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