Celtics avoiding elephant in the room in Giannis talks

The Celtics are reportedly on the shortlist of teams to watch in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, and it’s not exactly clear yet just how much Milwaukee would need to get back in return for the two-time league-MVP.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Boston’s interest in pursuing Antetokounmpo is largely based around a 1-for-1 swap of star players Antetokounmpo and the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown.

A deal without Brown in it is unlikely to be accepted by Milwaukee, and a deal that involves Brown plus additional compensation might be too steep of a price for Boston.

“The Celtics have gone to great lengths to avoid the elephant in the room here, but Jaylen Brown would need to be part of any deal for Antetokounmpo,” Amick wrote. “And if Boston had its way, the conversation would start and end there with a one-for-one swap of fellow All-Stars who are still in their respective primes (Antetokounmpo is 31; Brown is 29). Lest anyone forget, Brown is coming off his best season yet, finishing sixth in MVP voting.”

Despite his status as a multi-time All-Star, there are questions as to whether Brown is widely viewed as a true No. 1 scoring option in the NBA.

Brown led the Celtics to 56 wins while Jayson Tatum was out for most of the year rehabbing from offseason Achilles’ tendon surgery, but the Celtics were eliminated by Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.

Whether Milwaukee sees Brown as someone worth constructing a team around isn’t exactly clear, Amick said.

“It’s unclear if the Bucks would look to build around Brown as a centerpiece, as many rival executives have recently predicted, or perhaps rebuild by sending him elsewhere for young players and picks,” Amick wrote. “Whichever path Milwaukee selects, it’s widely believed that Brown alone wouldn’t be enough.”

With Brown being the younger player and a multi-time All-Star in his own right, it’s not shocking that Boston would want to avoid giving up more assets in return for Antetokounmpo.

But, the Celtics have fell to lower-seeded teams in the playoffs in three out of the last four postseasons. They were competitive in all three series that they lost.

How much would they be willing to pay if they believe adding Antetokounmpo would push them over the top?

“Boston could add up to three future first-round picks in the deal, and the fact that Antetokounmpo is known to be comfortable signing an extension with the Celtics should compel them to go all-in,” Amick wrote. “After all, Antetokounmpo is a champion, two-time MVP and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year whose overall body of work far exceeds Brown’s. All-time greats who plan on dominating for years to come just don’t hit the market all that often.”

The Celtics, who are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference next season, aren’t in as “desperate” of a spot as Miami is as far as adding star talent, Amick said.

Opportunities to acquire players of Antetokounmpo’s stature are rare. Questions remain about just how big of a swing the Celtics will take.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.