Almost time now. The Giannis sweepstakes are coming to a close soon.
By all accounts, the Bucks are going to deal Giannis Antetokounmpo to either the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics tomorrow 6/22 or Tuesday 6/23, before the NBA Draft takes place on Tuesday night. The Bucks have been trying to do anything within their power to drive up the market for Giannis, pitting the Celtics and the Heat against each other. Constant reports, rumors, fake reports, fake rumors... it's become obnoxious.
Bill Simmons tonight (6/21) said that he still believes that the Boston Celtics will get the deal done to bring Giannis to Boston, and he would "bet on Boston." Simmons references the trade package from the Miami Heat and simply hypothesizes that it is not good enough, and the Heat are trying to squeeze every last drop out of the Celtics. Simmons isn't wrong, the Heat's trade package feels underwhelming for a player of Giannis' magnitude, and the Heat want more.
The Heat should realize at this point that they will be able to get the most out of a three-team trade with Boston involving Jaylen Brown. Many teams have significant interest in Jaylen, who is a dynamic piece in his prime, looking for his own team to lead. When the Heat put both offers down on the table to look at, the decision should be simple.
The more complicated piece of this is where does Giannis actually want to play? The reports have been that he would accept a contract extension with either Boston or Miami, but that remains to be seen. If he truly just wants to go live in South Beach, then the Bucks will be forced to take an inadequate trade package and the Celtics will look to other avenues to improve their roster.
One thing is certain, the Giannis trade talks should be concluding soon, and we will finally get a conclusion to what has been a very annoying trade rumor period.
Good luck.