The Boston Celtics have navigated one of the more remarkable seasons in recent memory. Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in last May’s playoffs, the roster was overhauled over the summer, and Boston still sits as the No. 2 seed in the East with a 54-25 record. Jaylen Brown has been the engine, averaging close to 30 points per game while carrying the offense for stretches of the season.
Meanwhile, the situation in Milwaukee has deteriorated completely. The Bucks sit 11th in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been sidelined since March 15 with a knee injury, has reportedly told the organization to trade him, and had the NBA launch a formal investigation into how the team managed his availability. The relationship between player and franchise has effectively broken down.
With a potential Giannis trade looming this summer, Boston’s name has entered the conversation. On Thursday, an NBA insider offered his read on how real that connection actually is.
What Chris Haynes Said About the Celtics
GettyThe Milwaukee Bucks will likely try to move Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer.
On SiriusXM NBA Radio, NBA insider Chris Haynes was direct when asked about Boston’s standing in the Giannis sweepstakes.
“I haven’t heard Boston in the mix as far as being a team that he might be interested in,” Haynes said. “Maybe that’s something that could change. I’ve just never heard that.”
He went further, hinting that other teams have registered more clearly on his radar without naming them directly. The comments land as a notable counterpoint to a report from The Athletic’s Sam Amick, who wrote this week that the Celtics are “known to be interested” and have been discussed in league circles as potential suitors.
Those two data points are not necessarily contradictory. Interest from Boston’s side and interest from Giannis’s side are different conversations entirely. Haynes was speaking specifically to whether Giannis sees the Celtics as a destination.
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Why the Trade Faces Real Obstacles
GettyJayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics.
The basketball case for adding Giannis is obvious. A trio of Tatum, Brown, and Antetokounmpo would be nearly impossible to match at the top end. The financial and roster reality is considerably more complicated.
Giannis is owed $58.5 million in 2026-27, with a $62.8 million player option the following season. Tatum and Brown are both on supermax deals that together already exceed the salary cap on their own. Constructing a trade package without moving one of Boston’s star players is possible in theory but would require sending out significant depth, multiple first-round picks, and taking on enormous financial risk for a player who has missed 43 games this season.
Final Word
The Celtics are in a strong position right now. They do not need to chase Giannis to be a legitimate title contender.
Whether that changes this summer depends on what Milwaukee asks for, what Giannis actually wants, and whether Boston’s front office decides the reward justifies the cost. Haynes making clear he has never heard Boston mentioned from Giannis’s side is a meaningful data point.
That answer may change by July. For now, the Celtics have bigger things to focus on.
Celtics Get Blunt Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Update From NBA Insider