New reporting suggests that the Celtics know how they'd want to approach any trade for the former MVP.
According to a new report in The Athletic, the Boston Celtics know how they'd want to proceed in any trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As noted by Sam Amick, the Celtics believe a 1-for-1 swap of Jaylen Brown and Antetokounmpo should be able to get a deal done.
However, there are plenty of questions about this kind of situation, so let's dive a little deeper.
About Antetokounmpo
A 13-year veteran of the Milwaukee Bucks, he's a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time All-NBA selection, a five-time All-Defensive team member and a two-time MVP. He won the NBA championship with Milwaukee in 2021 and has been named NBA Finals MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
A dominant presence in the paint, he averaged 27.6 ppg last season, but he played only 36 games. And that's the rub with Antetokounmpo: He isn't always available. He's played more than 70 games just once in the last seven years.
He's 31 years old and is headed for a free agent deal, maybe even as early as next offseason. If the Celtics sign him, they'd have to extend him at a big money deal into his mid and late-30s.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is guarded by Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesAbout Brown
The former No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft (Cal), Brown has now played a decade in the league. One of the best players in Celtics history, he's a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and he finished sixth in the MVP voting this past season.
Trading him would represent the end of the Jayson Tatum/Brown era and would cause the Celtics to completely change how they play.
About this deal
-- Given that both players are max contract players, the deal would work from a financial perspective.
-- Amick reports that the Bucks don't see Brown as being enough for Antetokounmpo. Is that really true, or do the Bucks just have different plans? If they are trying to continue to compete in 2026-27, then Brown is a nice substitute for Antetokounmpo. If they want to rebuild, then they'd certainly probably rather also have the three first-round draft picks the Celtics can offer in a deal, and then maybe they'd look to flip Brown.
-- It's understandable why the Celtics see this as a 1:1 trade, because they recognize that Brown is younger and coming off a better season than Antetokounmpo is. Why should they have to add to the offer?
-- The Bucks have said they want to get something decided before the NBA Draft, which begins on June 23.
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