DHJ Quick Take: Giannis Open to Long-Term Celtics Stay
- Extension Commitment: If the Milwaukee Bucks execute a blockbuster trade sending him to Boston, Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly prepared to sign a long-term contract extension with the Celtics.
- Celtics Emerging as Top Threat: Backed by their willingness to center a trade package around star forward Jaylen Brown, Boston has established itself as a formidable threat to the Miami Heat in the high-stakes sweepstakes for the multi-time MVP.
- Imminent Draft-Night Deadline: With Antetokounmpo owed $58.5 million next season ahead of a $62.8 million player option, Milwaukee is widely expected to finalize a deal before the 2026 NBA Draft kicks off on June 23.
Giannis Antetokounmpo would sign an extension with the Boston Celtics if the Milwaukee Bucks trade him to Beantown, according to Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
The Celtics pose a serious threat to the Miami Heat in the Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes, as Boston is open to trading Jaylen Brown to acquire The Greek Freak.
“If Antetokounmpo would be willing to sign the four-year, $275 million extension in Boston, as league sources indicated would be the case, the Celtics pose a serious threat to the Heat’s pursuit,” Amick and Nehm wrote. “Brown is widely believed to be the most prominent player who would come the Bucks’ way in that deal, though rival teams expect that Milwaukee would trade the 29-year-old forward again for younger players and draft picks.”
The Bucks are expected to trade Antetokounmpo before the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins on June 23. Antetokounmpo will make $58.5 million next season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.
Along with the Celtics and Heat, Antetokounmpo has been linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic in trade talks.
Brown will make $57.1 million next season. He is under contract through the 2028-29 season. The swingman has been connected to the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets in trade rumors.
Antetokounmpo guided the Bucks to the 2021 championship. At that moment, it felt like Antetokounmpo would retire as a Buck.
However, Milwaukee has won only one playoff series since then and missed the playoffs this year for the first time since 2016. Antetokounmpo was almost traded at this year’s trade deadline in February. His relationship with the front office isn’t healthy anymore and all signs point toward the Bucks and Antetokounmpo parting ways this offseason.
Numerous sources have told Dallas Hoops Journal that Antetokounmpo wants to play for an East Coast team because the East Coast is close to Greece. Antetokounmpo’s wife and children don’t live with him in America during the NBA season. They reside in Greece.
Boston, of course, is on the East Coast. So is Miami and Orlando.
A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. He has been in the NBA since 2013. The 31-year-old won back-to-back MVPs in 2019 and 2020 and became the third player in NBA history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season in 2020.
Brown led the Celtics to the 2024 championship and won Finals MVP. The California product is a five-time All-Star.
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