The potential for a thrilling reunion between Jrue Holiday and a skilled power forward might be on the horizon in Boston Celtics’ future. Foundering in the initial round of the NBA playoffs for three consecutive years, it has been rumored that basketball giant Giannis Antetokounmpo is considering the feasibility of severing ties with his current team, the Milwaukee Bucks. These insider stories, as revealed by ESPN, induce speculation regarding the future team of Antetokounmpo, with Boston Celtics leading the top contenders.
Should the Greek player choose to depart the Wisconsin-based team, only a couple of other franchises could conceivably strike an acceptable trade deal with Milwaukee while still retaining an NBA championship-winning team’s roster depth. Notably, the Boston Celtics are part of this selective group. Here are some pertinent details to explore the hypothetical scenario of Antetokounmpo’s switch to Boston.
To meaningfully delve into the viability of Antetokounmpo donning a Celtics jersey, scrutinizing the salary structure of potential trade players becomes paramount. As per his agreement with Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo is projected to earn a considerable $54.1 million for the 2025-2026 season within his three-year contract term.
Comparatively on the Celtics’ roster, Jayson Tatum shares a similar salary scale for the coming season with the aforementioned amount. This substantial figure sufficiently matches Antetokounmpo’s remuneration, designating Tatum as a likely contender for a straightforward trade. Remarkably, there are no other Celtics’ player earning this exorbitant figure, a case in point being Jaylen Brown, whose salary for the upcoming season is a fraction lesser at $53.1 million.
Although Brown’s wage doesn’t make the cut for a transaction with Antetokounmpo, his trade potential can’t be completely discarded. From a financial perspective, an exchange involving Brown’s contract seems the most plausible choice, given the comparable salaries. Moreover, such a trade would ensure the Bucks still have a promising forward to invest and plan their future endeavours around.
Thus, while it’s a long shot that Boston Celtics will participate in any intense pursuit of Giannis, it’s intriguing to know that the team’s comprehensive roster makes them a likely draft for Antetokounmpo. The likelihood of a direct transaction, however, restricts the possible trading scenarios.
Speaking strictly in terms of trade legality, a direct transaction could take place between the Celtics and Bucks only if Antetokounmpo’s contract is exchanged for Tatum’s. Without this condition, the transaction wouldn’t be compliant with the current rules and regulations. However, other intriguing possibilities of bringing Giannis to Boston exist, veering slightly away from traditional trade methods.
A potential tactic available for the Celtics is initiating a tripartite trade deal involving the Brooklyn Nets along with the Bucks and themselves. This type of negotiation can tip the scales in the Celtics’ favor, increasing their chances to acquire Antetokounmpo’s skills on their team.
This tripartite deal paves the way for a sequence of smaller transactions which could strategically set up the Boston franchise for a successful run once Tatum reemerges in their rotations for the 2026-27 season.
Though these discussions are purely conjectures and possibilities, only time will be the eventual decider of Antetokounmpo’s fate in the NBA. Whether we’ll witness the Greek basketball player sporting the Boston branded, green-and-white jerseys, as opposed to Milwaukee’s colors, remains an exciting uncertainty for all basketball aficionados.