Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics. Antetokounmpo has re-ignited NBA trade rumors.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics. Antetokounmpo has re-ignited NBA trade rumors.
The last few days have been promising for those who want to see some fireworks when the NBA trade deadline hits in three weeks, with the Boston Celtics suddenly tossed into the deep end of the NBA trade rumor pool thanks to a suggestion that Boston could pursue Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. And the Milwaukee Bucks, almost as soon as the Giannis Antetokounmpo on-the-trade-block rumors had been put to rest, now find that the Greek Freak’s own antics have resurrected them.
Throw in some flies in the ointment that seemed to be greasing the path for Nets star Michael Porter Jr. to the Warriors (covered here), as well as a hand injury for Mavericks big man Anthony Davis and there is much to be sorted out among the big names that are dotting the trade market these days.
Let’s sort it out.
Celtics and Jaren Jackson Jr.: Apron Troubles
First, there was a report from Action’s Matt Moore that suggested that the Celtics, “would love to trade for” Jaren Jackson Jr. That is no doubt, true, but it is also like suggesting that a 5-year-old wants an ice cream. Of course they do.
But the Celtics can’t get there despite the NBA trade rumors that have followed. The team just made some tough decisions to excise salaries this summer to get out of luxury-tax apron hell, and trading for Jackson would simply get them right back into it. Boston has $145 million committed to Derrick White, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for 2026-27 (and $155 million for the trio in 2027-28) so adding the five-year, $204 million extension for JJJ makes no sense.
Unless they deal White (they won’t), adding Jackson (at $49 million next year) would essentially put the Celtics over the luxury tax threshold (projected for $201 million in 2026-27) for four players. They’re not going back down that road.
And get used to this refrain: GMs around the league can see Jackson getting traded, but not at the deadline. “More teams will have picks and flexibility this summer to do something with a contract that size,” one NBA executive said. “Check back in June.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo Re-Ignites NBA Trade Rumors
The same can be said for Antetokounmpo, even after his shoddy display against the Timberwolves on Tuesday. Minnesota was without Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards, and still throttled the Bucks by 33 points. The team was rightfully booed on its home floor, but Antetokounmpo responded by childishly booing back at the crowd.
“Whenever I get booed, I boo back,” Antetokounmpo said.
He later added, ” I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me how I should act on [a] basketball court after I’ve been here 13 years. And I’m basically the all-time leader in everything.”
That’s not a great look from a guy who only last week said he loves Milwaukee too much to ask for a trade. But again, don’t expect one to spring up in the next three weeks. “That’s another one, it would be really, really hard to do it at the deadline, it should wait for the summer,” the exec said.
NBA Trade Rumors Still Floating Around Injured Anthony Davis
The verdict was the same on the Anthony Davis situation with the Mavericks. He will not undergo surgery to repair his hand, which means he could be back in six weeks–something Dallas wanted to leave open as a possibility for teams seeking Davis in a trade. But Davis has played only 29 games since he was dealt to Dallas a year ago, and there are not teams lining up to gamble on a trade now.
“He might come back in March,” the exec said. “And that is ‘might.’ And this is Anthony Davis. You can’t go to your owner and tell him you want to send a first-round pick and a young player and bring in Davis and then sit and watch him play for 10 days before he gets hurt again.”
Davis will be more tradeable in the offseason, though there is still a chance that the Mavericks hold onto him.