Less than 2 weeks away from the 2026 NBA draft the, main storyline revolves around a potential trade for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Multiple reports have Miami as the favorite for Antetokounmpo, and Boston has reportedly not had any conversations with the Bucks regarding trade for Giannis.
For the last few years, the Celtics’ preference has been to build around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, so it’s likely they are beginning the offseason by evaluating potential options to add around the Jays before engaging in serious trade talks for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jake Fischer reported, “While the NBA braces for a pre-June 23 Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, league personnel maintain the Bucks have yet to ask teams for their final offers, and are waiting to execute any blockbuster until after these ongoing NBA Finals... when Milwaukee could at least attempt to engage New York's interest in acquiring Giannis one final time.”
The Bucks also know that the Celtics have at least some level of interest in acquiring Giannis, based on the report by Shams Charania highlighting that the Celtics were among the multiple teams that inquired about Antetokounmpo at the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Because of this, it’s likely that the Bucks would also reach out to the Celtics about a potential offer before making a Giannis trade.
If the Celtics evaluate their potential options outside of Giannis and feel that none of them move the needle or are worth pursuing, they may be inclined to revisit trade discussions with the Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo as we get closer to the draft.