NBA analysts debate if the Boston Celtics should trade for the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason.
Before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Boston Celtics were the team to fear as they were the defending champions of the league.
For what it’s worth, the Celtics did finish as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 61-21 record. However, things went south for the C’s come playoff time, as they suffered a second-round exit.
Now, heading into the offseason, there is a serious conversation about whether the Celtics should blow up their current roster and acquire a big-name superstar to start with a fresh slate.
Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesJay Williams thinks the Boston Celtics should trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo
As of now, the Celtics have one of the most expensive rosters in the NBA and if the new ownership wishes to keep the core intact, the cost will only rise.
Keeping that in mind, if the Celtics do decide to break things up, NBA analyst Jay Williams believes they should try to trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is rumored to part ways with his team this offseason.
“There is one team in particular that is going through a gap year and a revamp that could be interesting, the Boston Celtics,” Williams began on ESPN’s First Take.
“Jaylen Brown? Jayson Tatum? Probably on the side of Jaylen Brown because of his versatility and how he plays, there’s new ownership, so it’s fluid, what kind of salaries can he sustain, and [Kristaps] Porzingis getting older, Al Horford getting older, Jrue Holiday getting older,” he added.
Williams concluded by stating: “Boston’s in that sweet spot, at least in my opinion.”
While a plethora of teams have been named as the rumored next destination of the Greek Freak, the Celtics have hardly received any buzz around the same.
Brian Windhorst on Jay Williams’ Giannis-Celtics take
Jayson Tatum suffered a terrible ruptured Achilles tendon injury in the second round against the New York Knicks. He is likely to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season.
With that said, Williams’ co-host Brian Windhorst believes that Tatum’s injury will play a role in the Celtics’ pursuit of Antetokounmpo.
“I thought Boston was more interesting before the devastating Tatum injury,” Windhorst said. “I don’t know what you are going to get from Tatum next year. Before that, I thought it was a real conversation, and maybe it still could be.”
There’s no doubt that Tatum is one of the most talented stars in the league right now. But a severe injury can have lingering effects on even a young superstar like him.
So, as Windy stated, Tatum’s recovery will indeed be the key to the Celtics potentially going all-in for Giannis or sticking with their current core.