New Giannis Trade Rumors Link Surprise Landing Spot amid Buzz About Friction with Bucks

The Boston Celtics could potentially join the bidding war for Giannis Antetokounmpo should the Milwaukee Bucks decide to shop their superstar this offseason.

The Celtics "are known to have interest and are discussed in league circles as possible suitors" for Antetokounmpo, The Athletic's Sam Amick reported Wednesday.

Amick's report comes amid a public split between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks over his injury status, amid which ESPN's Shams Charania reported Bucks leadership has "come to terms with the inevitability of a likely deal coming to fruition this offseason."

Antetokounmpo has repeatedly told reporters he wants to play for a contender. The Celtics, who got Jayson Tatum back last month from the Achilles injury that ended his 2025 postseason, are preparing to make another playoff run this spring.

Antetokounmpo has one more guaranteed season on his deal at a $58.5 million cap hit with a player option for 2027-28.

As of next October with the Bucks or April 2027 with another team, he will become eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension that would extend his contract through the 2030-31 season.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported the Bucks expressed interest in the Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe and Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley when discussing potential Antetokounmpo trades ahead of the deadline, and that an offer from the Golden State Warriors involving four unprotected first-rounders stalled out.

Any team willing to give up that kind of return would likely want to know that Antetokounmpo would be willing to sign an extension when he becomes eligible next spring.

The Celtics might have a chance of receiving that kind of interest from Antetokounmpo, who recently cited Boston coach Joe Mazzulla when speaking with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Lori Nickel about what he saw as the kind of winning culture he wanted to play for.

The Celtics currently have Nikola Vucevic's $21.5 million cap hit set to come off the books next season, per Spotrac. That would leave them a projected $24 million under the first apron and $37 million under the second apron, according to Spotrac.

It would take further financial maneuvering, potentially partially through sending at least one contract out to Milwaukee, in order to fit in Antetokounmpo and his theoretical extension alongside long-term deals for Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Potentially depending in part on how the upcoming postseason goes, the Celtics could decide that move would be worth it to give this core a better shot at another title.

For now, Boston will focus on clinching the No. 2 seed in the East over the New York Knicks. The Celtics could secure the spot, and the right to battle a play-in team in the first round, with a win over the visiting Knicks this Friday.