NBA insider tabs Celtics as ‘stealth’ team for potential Giannis trade

Might the Boston Celtics look to shake issues up after a disheartening collapse within the first spherical of the playoffs?

As Brad Stevens and Boston’s prime brass look to choose up the items after the Celtics let a 3-1 collection lead slip by way of their grasp in opposition to the Sixers, there are a number of offseason choices on the desk.

A full season of a wholesome Jayson Tatum ought to do wonders for Boston, particularly if Stevens opts for minimal upgrades and decides to run it again with a majority of the roster intact — eliminating repeater tax penalties within the course of.

But when the Celtics try to overtake their core and pair Tatum with one other star expertise, might Boston be a viable commerce suitor for Bucks celebrity ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Speaking on Sirius XM’s “Deals and Dunks” on Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein tabbed the Celtics as a group that might be within the working for the two-time MVP if the Bucks decide to maneuver him after a disappointing 2025-26 season.

“As a result of they’ve created this [cap] flexibility for themselves when it appeared prefer it was gonna be actually arduous to take action — I really feel like they’re gonna be capable to make strikes,” Stein stated of the Celtics. “There’ll inevitably be individuals who carry again the, ‘Do they break up Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown’ — like, that storyline will most likely come again.

“There have been some rumblings at varied factors in the course of the season that the Celtics might be a stealth Giannis group and a group that probably pursuits Giannis. So let’s preserve our eye on the Celtics. We all know Brad Stevens is just not afraid to make large strikes and take large swings. So I feel we have now to be prepared for absolutely anything with Boston.”

It could require a steep value to pry Giannis out of Milwaukee, who’s signed for the 2026-27 season and likewise has a participant choice for 2027-28 for a $62.7 million cap hit. As a way to make the cash work, Boston would both should get very inventive in any deal — or commerce  Brown as major return to the rebuilding Bucks (who might flip him to a different group for added property).

Antetokounmpo’s resume speaks for itself as one of the dominant gamers of his technology — main the Bucks to a title in 2021 whereas incomes 10 All-Star nods and 4 Defensive First Crew honors.

Throughout a misplaced season in Milwaukee in 2025-26, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 factors, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per recreation over 36 video games.

However past the sizable package deal Boston would wish to assemble in any deal, Antetokounmpo’s age is likely to be a priority, as he’ll flip 32 years previous in December.

As intriguing because it is likely to be to pair Tatum subsequent to a different celebrity expertise in Antetokounmpo, there’s additionally some unknown over how Joe Mazzulla would make the most of Antetokounmpo in his system — in addition to how each Tatum and Antetokounmpo would co-exist on the ground as Boston’s prime choices. ​

Nonetheless, Stein’s feedback mirror that Stevens and Co. might depart no stone unturned this summer time in the case of enhancing a roster that fell effectively wanting expectations within the playoffs.

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author masking the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Purple Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.