Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens made it clear that he wants to see the Celtics embrace at least somewhat of a different play style in 2026-27.

Without directly saying it, he intimated that the Celtics were too reliant on the three-point shot and he wants to see them play better at the rim.

Celtics reporter Bobby Krivitsky outlined how unwilling Boston was to play at the rim in their playoff series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

“More of an impact at the rim. And I think we do need to add to our team to do that."

The Celtics in the first round of this year’s playoffs:

-2nd-fewest attempts in the restricted area

-3rd-fewest shots in the paint outside the RA

-2nd-fewest points in the paint

Given Stevens's comments - and stats like that - the idea of the Celtics acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason will continue to be talked about. 

We wrote a story the other day detailing why acquiring the perennial All-Star could work - and might not work.

But there is something else to think about as well that we didn't think of before.

Forget about the injury issues with Antetokounmpo for a second. Let's just assume he stays healthy for the sake of argument.

Acquiring him would absolutely solve the Celtics problems at the rim. He's one of the most dominant interior players in the sport and is lethal when he's heading downhill.

He would score at the rim, and he'd also generate double-teams and help and would be able to kick out to wide open shooters.

And there in lies the rub of this whole thing: If the Celtics have to trade all their shooters to acquire Antetokounmpo, how effective can all this be?

For as good as Jaylen Brown is, he was just a 34.7 percent three-point shooter this season, far from knockdown. Even if double teams on Antetokounmpo make his shots a little more open, he's never going to turn into Steph Curry.

Jayson Tatum is a career 36.9 percent three-point shooter, but he has been above 35.3 percent only once in the last five years (2023-24).

In order to make the money work, the Celtics likely have to trade all - or most - of Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Derrick White, all guys who have historically shot well.

Would the Celtics go from too three-point dependent, to not able to hit the three? Would they have enough shooting left to make this a good plan?

If the Celtics become an interior-driven team? They would stand to be a great free-throw shooting team, which is a huge deal. 

Brown improved his free-throw percentage to 79.5 percent this season, but he's only a career 73.5 percent shooter. Antetokounmpo is only 69.1.

If don't hit the three as well, can you afford to give points up at the line?

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