The Giannis-to-Boston rumors are heating back up.
Prominent NBA insiders Kevin O’Connor (Yahoo Sports) and Bill Simmons (The Ringer) reignited the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discourse with eye-opening updates on the Celtics’ interest in the Milwaukee Bucks superstar. O’Connor said the C’s are willing to part ways with all but one of their players.
“I have heard Boston is shopping people around a lot right now, that Boston is making calls, Boston is open to trading anybody besides Jayson Tatum,” O’Connor said on The Kevin O’Connor Show. “And that doesn’t necessarily mean they land Giannis at the end of the day, but I do believe, based off of everything and all the conversations I’ve had, is that the Celtics are in on Giannis, and that they are making a push on him… This feels very, very real to me.”
Simmons, who had initially poured cold water on the Giannis-to-Boston rumors, changed his tune on Thursday.
“I thought Boston was out of this,” Simmons said on the Bill Simmons Podcast. “I know Boston was out of this. I was wondering if they were playing possum or not. I think they were playing a little possum. I think they are in on Giannis.
“I’m not recanting what I said before. I don’t know the reasons for it. Maybe they felt like Miami’s offer is an offer they could beat. Maybe they want to drive the price of Miami’s offer up and don’t really have interest in him.”
Simmons added that Boston remains among Giannis’ preferred destinations.
Those updates coincided with an interesting X post by Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who would presumably be the centerpiece of a Giannis deal.
“The neighbor’s rice always smells better,” Brown wrote.
So, what should we make of the latest Giannis rumors? Kayla Burton, Phil Perry, and Marc Bertrand shared their reactions during Thursday’s Early Edition.
“I wouldn’t mind it as long as the guy is healthy,” Burton said. “He only played 36 games last season. … That’s my only concern when it comes to him. … He’s on the upside of 31 years old now, had some injuries. … I just don’t know the number of pieces that they have to trade away.”
Antetokounmpo was limited to 36 games due to multiple injuries, including a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee. The two-time NBA MVP remained elite when healthy, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting over 62 percent from the field.
“He’s still a great player, and when you look at some of the advanced numbers, he’s still one of the best offensive players in basketball when he’s on the court,” Perry said. “I think part of the reason he’s missed time is because he’s just been checked out in Milwaukee, so I don’t worry as much as some others do about his health.
“I just take away from the reporting from Kevin O’Connor, they’re willing to trade anybody, or they’re shopping anybody not named Jayson Tatum. OK, they’re willing to potentially move Jaylen Brown, and they’re in on Giannis. … I’m not sure there’s a package out there, whether it’s Miami or anywhere else that would beat the Celtics’ willingness to trade away a second-team All-NBA guy.”
Michael Holley, Tom Giles and Chris Gasper react to reports that the Rockets, Hawks and Trail Blazers have interest in trading for Jaylen Brown.
Trading Brown would be a stunning development. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP has been key to Boston’s success since being selected third overall in the 2016 draft. He took his game to another level this past season with Tatum sidelined, averaging a career-high 28.6 points per game and finishing sixth in the MVP race.
But after blowing a 3-1 series lead in their first-round playoff matchup vs. the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s time for Brad Stevens and the C’s to reevaluate their situation.
“You’ve got to watch what is playing out right now with the teams that are dominating, whether you want to say it’s the Knicks or it’s the Spurs,” Bertrand said. “Which of those teams are you going to compete with with this current roster? The Knicks have already beaten you once. Are you going to compete against the Spurs with the way this roster is currently constructed?
“If the Celtics are all in on building a championship team, they might need it to look different than the way it looks now.”
If Antetokounmpo is moved, it’ll likely happen before the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23.
Watch the full Early Edition segment in the video player above, or on YouTube below:
