The Boston Celtics' season ended with a first-round defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games, and major changes could be coming this offseason.
Brad Stevens noted after the Celtics' season ended that he wants to add to the team to improve the impact they can have at the rim. Well, Giannis Antetokounmpo's name has been floating around in trade rumors as the Milwaukee Bucks look to sort out what to do with him. On Monday, NBA insider Shams Charania noted on "The Pat McAfee Show" that Giannis will reportedly turn down an extension, essentially forcing the Bucks to trade him.
Charania noted that the Bucks are open for buisness at named the Celtics as a potential suitor. Not only did he do that, but he revealed that they pursued him at the trade deadline.
"The NBA playoffs represent another landmark point for the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes," Charania wrote on Monday. "Sources said postseason teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers pursued Antetokounmpo at the February deadline, and their finishes to the campaign will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for Antetokounmpo."
The asking price for Antetokounmpo will be very high. It was reportedly very high near the trade deadline, and the Celtics had to know that. However, the fact that they already pursued him then would mean they will once again be in the mix for his summer sweepstakes.
Knowing that the Bucks essentially have to trade Giannis and that he is not signing an extension could lower the asking price slightly. However, acquiring the two-time MVP will likely require the Celtics to move on from one of their big contract players, Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, and it's pretty clear who that would be. Brown's name was likely to have come up in February when the Celtics reportedly pursued Antetokounmpo the first time.
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