Could the Celtics Swing Big for Giannis? Here’s What That Might Look Like
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee is officially on the table. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the two-time MVP and his agent have started early conversations with the Bucks about what’s next-a process that could open the door to a blockbuster trade. And if that door cracks open, the Boston Celtics might just be one of the few teams with the assets-and the ambition-to kick it wide open.
Now, let’s be clear: trading for a player of Giannis’ caliber isn’t just about making the money work. It’s about reshaping your franchise.
It’s about pairing a generational talent with another in Jayson Tatum and going all-in on a window of championship contention that could define the next half-decade. But to get there, Boston would have to make some seriously tough decisions.
The Cost of Greatness
The Celtics are in a rare position. They control nearly all of their future draft picks, giving them the kind of flexibility most contenders can only dream about.
That war chest of picks could be the foundation of a compelling trade package. But draft capital alone won’t be enough-not when you're talking about a top-five player in the league and one of the most dominant two-way forces basketball has ever seen.
To match Giannis’ salary, Boston would need to include a significant contract. That likely means one of Jaylen Brown or Derrick White would have to go. And that’s where things get complicated.
Brown, fresh off signing a massive extension and continuing to evolve as a two-way star, has been central to Boston’s identity for years. Trading him would be a seismic shift-not just financially, but emotionally, culturally, and strategically.
White, on the other hand, has become one of the league’s most reliable guards, a glue guy who does everything well and nothing poorly. Losing either would hurt.
Losing both? That’s a gut punch.
But Giannis is Giannis. He’s the kind of player who changes everything.
What Could a Deal Look Like?
Let’s say Boston wants to avoid giving up Brown. One hypothetical package could center around Derrick White and Anfernee Simons-who’s on a sizable enough deal to help balance the salary sheet.
That duo, combined with a haul of draft picks and young players, could get Milwaukee’s attention. But make no mistake: the Bucks would want more.
We’re likely talking about a full-scale asset dump. Picks, prospects, and then some.
Names like Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman-all young, intriguing pieces-could be on the table. Throw in Payton Pritchard or Sam Hauser, and you’re starting to see the kind of depth Boston might have to sacrifice to make a deal work.
The Celtics would be betting big on a new-look core: Tatum, Giannis, and whatever’s left standing after the dust settles.
What’s Left After the Trade?
Let’s imagine a scenario where Boston parts with White, Simons, Gonzalez, Walsh, and a boatload of picks. They’d still have a foundation of:
- Jayson Tatum
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Jaylen Brown
- Payton Pritchard
- Sam Hauser
- Neemias Queta
- Baylor Scheierman
- Josh Minott
That’s a team with two MVP-caliber stars, a third All-Star in Brown, and a supporting cast that-while thinner-still includes capable rotation players. And with the right veteran minimum signings or midseason additions, that group could be a nightmare for the rest of the league.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t a move you make lightly. Trading for Giannis would mean breaking up a team that’s already among the league’s elite. But it’s also the kind of move that could elevate Boston from perennial contender to potential dynasty.
The Celtics have the pieces. They have the picks. And if Milwaukee truly opens the door to a Giannis deal, Boston will at least have to consider walking through it.
Because opportunities like this don’t come around often. And when they do, bold teams find a way to make them count.