The NBA season has officially wrapped up, and the offseason is shaping up to be quite eventful. Right now, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the focal point, with many eyes on him as rumors continue to circulate. Among the teams interested, the Celtics seem to be gaining traction.
Previously, the Heat were seen as frontrunners to trade for the two-time NBA MVP after their postseason elimination from the playoffs in April. At that point, they had an 18.1 percent chance of getting him, slightly trailing the Bucks, who had a 19 percent chance according to Calci’s prediction market.
However, the Celtics’ recent strong performance has stirred speculation about Antetokounmpo’s potential move to Boston. As of Tuesday afternoon, the odds for the Celtics were nearly on par with the Heat, giving both a 39.7 percent chance of landing the star player in a market experiencing over $2.5 million in volume.
NBA veteran insider Mark Stein remarked on Monday during the All NBA Podcast that while Miami is still interested in acquiring Antetokounmpo, a deal isn’t close just yet.
“Of all the teams pursuing Giannis in February, Miami is really the only one still in the mix,” Stein noted. He mentioned known players like Tyler Hero that are likely to be involved, as well as other unconfirmed assets from the recent draft.
Adding to this discussion, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst pointed out that while Antetokounmpo may prefer Miami, the talks between the Heat and Bucks have been ongoing for months, yet no agreement has been reached. It seems the Bucks aren’t satisfied with what Miami has offered so far.
Windhorst also highlighted the Celtics’ interest but mentioned hurdles they might face, particularly whether they would be willing to trade Jaylen Brown along with other necessary assets—this might even involve additional teams to finalize a deal.
“If the Bucks do decide to part with Antetokounmpo, they might need to involve a third or fourth team to balance the scales or to replace outgoing assets. That’s usually complex and can often fall apart,” Windhorst added.
Antetokounmpo is under contract for this season and has a player option worth $62.7 million for the 2027-28 season. He’s eligible for a contract extension come October, which could give him some leverage, along with the possibility of returning to the Bucks if both sides decide on that route.
The Bucks are expected to make a decision regarding Antetokounmpo before the NBA Draft scheduled for June 23, so we might find out what happens sooner rather than later.
