Celtics
“You don’t trade for Giannis, or you don’t even try to trade for Giannis when you don’t know the health status of Jayson Tatum.”
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix doubts that the Celtics will make a serious run at trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer.
The Bucks star is reportedly open to exploring teams that may be a better fit for him than Milwaukee.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said staying in the Eastern Conference would probably be the best bet for Antetokounmpo’s title odds, given how competitive the Western Conference is. He mentioned the Celtics and Knicks as possible fits for Antetokounmpo.
Trading for the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo would likely require a hefty package of assets, and could be risky considering that it’s not clear exactly how much time Jayson Tatum will miss next season as he rehabs his surgically repaired Achilles’ tendon.
Adding Antetokounmpo to a Celtics team that will be without Tatum, and most likely at least one other starter, probably won’t be enough firepower to contend for a championship next season, Mannix said.
“You don’t trade for Giannis, or you don’t even try to trade for Giannis when you don’t know the health status of Jayson Tatum,” Mannix said during a recent appearance on NBC Sports Boston. “Because even though right now the Bucks can deal with every team in the league because Giannis has two fully-guaranteed years left on his contract, you’ve got a bit of a window there.”
The Celtics could be without Tatum for a portion, or perhaps even all of next season. They’re also in a position where they’ll likely have to cut costs. They are well over the second apron, and they underachieved against the Knicks with this current group.
“But, with Giannis, you trade him to Boston and all of a sudden even with him with that group you’re looking at probably a .500 type season. Just like I think right now in Milwaukee. And then, you’re going to be talking to him about an extension and you don’t even know the health [status] of Jayson Tatum.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote the luxury tax’s apron penalties have “all but eliminated” the possibility of the Celtics trading for Antetokounmpo.
The Celtics are not allowed to combine salaries or take on additional salary in trades. He wrote that the only workable scenario would be the Celtics flipping Tatum for Antetokounmpo because of the salary restrictions.
Trading Tatum would be unlikely for multiple reasons, given his age, franchise-player status, and the uncertainty around his health status.
The Celtics would probably have to make other moves to change their apron status before pursuing a trade for Antetokounmpo. Windhorst seemed adamant about the Celtics’ ability to do some salary-cap maneuvering if they truly wanted to make a run at Antetokounmpo.
“There [are] some difficulties when you talk about aprons and second apron teams trying to make trades, and that’s a reality,” Windhorst said. “But, there’s some teams in the Eastern Conference you could construct an ability to get this done.”
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