The Boston Celtics continue to be linked with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, but any potential deal looks far more complicated than it first appears.
Boston may be one of the headline names in the rumor mill, yet pulling off a trade for Giannis would almost certainly require the Celtics to part ways with either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, a blockbuster move for Antetokounmpo would likely force Boston into another major roster shake-up following changes already made during the 2025 offseason.
Brown is eligible for an extension from July 26 and still has three years left on his current contract, while Tatum has four years remaining and earns a salary similar to Giannis.
Although Antetokounmpo is widely viewed as an upgrade on almost any player in the league, acquiring him would likely cost far more than just one star player. Boston would probably also need to include valuable draft picks and additional assets to satisfy Milwaukee.
There is also another major concern for the Celtics: long-term security.
Giannis is only under contract through the 2026-27 season, meaning Boston would need confidence that he would commit his future to the franchise before sacrificing one of its cornerstone players.
Marks questioned whether the Celtics would really consider breaking up the Tatum-Brown partnership without guarantees that Antetokounmpo would sign an extension, suggesting the answer should firmly be no given both stars remain tied to the team for several more years.
From Milwaukee’s perspective, however, the idea of receiving either Tatum or Brown in return would naturally be appealing, especially with both players still under long-term contracts.
That is why the speculation surrounding Boston refuses to disappear, even if the obstacles involved make the Celtics a far less straightforward destination than some other teams linked with Giannis.
