The Boston Celtics are consolidating their position as the second-most preferred destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo, with fresh reporting from NBA insider Marc Stein corroborating earlier claims that Boston has already submitted a formal trade offer to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Writing on The Stein Line, Stein stated that league sources and team officials increasingly project Boston as the alternative landing spot Antetokounmpo wants to be steered toward, even if he has stopped short of pushing for it openly.
“I have also spoken to teams and well-placed insiders around the league who believe that it remains possible that Antetokounmpo does not ultimately land on South Beach. As we’ve been reporting since late May, Boston is increasingly projected to be the other landing spot that Giannis prefers to be steered to… without overtly pushing as hard as he possibly can.”
Stein also raised the question of which third team could facilitate a deal, specifically citing the Atlanta Hawks and the Portland Trail Blazers as candidates that could join negotiations to absorb Jaylen Brown and help structure a package that lands Antetokounmpo in Boston.
“The strongest belief expressed in my various conversations is that an actual trade to end this long-running saga after Antetokounmpo’s 13 seasons as a Buck is indeed drawing near.”
Simmons Report on Celtics Offer Confirmed
On the All NBA Podcast, Stein validated earlier reporting from Bill Simmons, who first disclosed Antetokounmpo‘s interest in Boston and revealed that the Celtics had placed an offer on the table with Milwaukee within the past week.
“My old friend Bill Simmons beat me to it. Bill was the first one to talk about Giannis’ interest in Boston and from everything I’ve heard the last 2-3 weeks, his report was spot on,” Stein said.
Simmons acknowledged uncertainty about the specific contents of the offer.
“From what I heard, they made an offer in the past week. I don’t know what their offer was or who was in it, but that was in the ring, which I was really surprised by because I thought they were sitting it out,” he said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
Miami Heat Still Lead the Race
Despite the growing Boston narrative, the Miami Heat retain the strongest momentum in the sweepstakes. Stein’s sources indicate a deal structure is beginning to take shape around Miami‘s assets.
“A deal, league sources say, that would feature Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. as presumed certainties among Heat veterans to be headed to Milwaukee along with the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft as well as additional but not-yet-specified draft compensation,” Stein reported.
The picture around Antetokounmpo‘s future is sharpening fast, with Stein describing the current moment as one approaching clarity. Whether that clarity lands on South Beach or in Boston, the endgame for the Bucks superstar’s 13-season run in Milwaukee appears close. Follow TipsGG for the latest updates as this story develops.
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