Is It Giannis Or Bust?

[slightly biased bias fan]

In terms of the Celtics winning an NBA championship (not just competing), it seems like a Giannis trade is this teams only hope.

In the current NBA tax climate, the Celtics have 135.3 million in 3 players. They have 107.2 million in two players, and only one being a top 10 talent.

The Celtics lost Kornet & Horford for nothing in free agency, and (essentially) gave away Holiday & Porzingis for nothing.

The Celtics have their own 2026 pick, but it will most likely end up being outside of the lottery.

A trade for Giannis seems the Celtics only viable way of winning a title in the next few seasons.

[Moranis]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

[slightly biased bias fan]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

Brown, Hauser, Prichard, Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, 2026 pick, 2030 pick

[Vermont Green]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

It would have to start with Brown.  Now that we are under the second apron, I believe that this would be possible.  Aren't you the one that has been advocating to trade Brown for a while?  If we could somehow get Giannis for Brown (and probably some picks), I would be all for that.  But why would MIL?

Brown is only 2 years younger and a good player, but Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate.  And at a position that is harder to get a good player.  Maybe if MIL hires Nico Harrison or something.

[slightly biased bias fan]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

It would have to start with Brown.  Now that we are under the second apron, I believe that this would be possible.  Aren't you the one that has been advocating to trade Brown for a while?  If we could somehow get Giannis for Brown (and probably some picks), I would be all for that.  But why would MIL?

Brown is only 2 years younger and a good player, but Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate.  And at a position that is harder to get a good player.  Maybe if MIL hires Nico Harrison or something.

If Giannis asks out after this season, the Bucks will have to oblige.

You are never going to get equal value for an MVP caliber player, but you can get the best value possible for the position the Bucks are in. Milwaukee do not control their own draft stock until 2031, which means they need to be competitive.

Prichard
Brown
Hauser
Portis
Turner

That is a playoff team in the East. The Bucks would get a solid 2026 pick from the Celtics, along with prospects Scheierman & Gonzalez.

The only team that beats a Celtics trade offer is Houston.

[Goldstar88]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

It would have to start with Brown.  Now that we are under the second apron, I believe that this would be possible.  Aren't you the one that has been advocating to trade Brown for a while?  If we could somehow get Giannis for Brown (and probably some picks), I would be all for that.  But why would MIL?

Brown is only 2 years younger and a good player, but Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate.  And at a position that is harder to get a good player.  Maybe if MIL hires Nico Harrison or something.

If Giannis asks out after this season, the Bucks will have to oblige.

You are never going to get equal value for an MVP caliber player, but you can get the best value possible for the position the Bucks are in. Milwaukee do not control their own draft stock until 2031, which means they need to be competitive.

Prichard
Brown
Hauser
Portis
Turner

That is a playoff team in the East. The Bucks would get a solid 2026 pick from the Celtics, along with prospects Scheierman & Gonzalez.

The only team that beats a Celtics trade offer is Houston.

That?s not a very good team for Milwaukee. They aren?t going anywhere with that roster.

[Neurotic Guy]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

It would have to start with Brown.  Now that we are under the second apron, I believe that this would be possible.  Aren't you the one that has been advocating to trade Brown for a while?  If we could somehow get Giannis for Brown (and probably some picks), I would be all for that.  But why would MIL?

Brown is only 2 years younger and a good player, but Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate.  And at a position that is harder to get a good player.  Maybe if MIL hires Nico Harrison or something.

I think the only possible scenario is Giannis is injured (so he can?t win games for the Cs post-trade) and the Cs look like deep lottery at the deadline. That way the trade begins with JB and a top 2026 pick.  That?s not replacement for Giannis but provides some hope that the draft could give them a potential building block. I?d be surprised if other offers weren?t better. 

[Moranis]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

It would have to start with Brown.  Now that we are under the second apron, I believe that this would be possible.  Aren't you the one that has been advocating to trade Brown for a while?  If we could somehow get Giannis for Brown (and probably some picks), I would be all for that.  But why would MIL?

Brown is only 2 years younger and a good player, but Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate.  And at a position that is harder to get a good player.  Maybe if MIL hires Nico Harrison or something.

Brown isn't good enough to be the main piece for Giannis.  Milwaukee would do way better.  Now if Boston has the 1st pick in the draft and Brown, maybe that starts to get there for the Bucks. 

Brown is simply not a high value asset. Very good player, but hs a huge contract, is injured a lot, and will be 30 right after the start of next season.  He can't be the best part of a trade for a MVP level player.  Just not good enough. 

[keevsnick]

Lets say Tatum comes back close to what he was before. Going into 26-27 you'd have

Tatum (Top 10 player)
Brown (Top 20 Player)
White (Top 35 player)
Pritchard (Top 100 player)
Hauser (Solid Rotation player)

On top of that they'll have Anfernee Simons expiring to use in a S&T, a 20ish million dollar TPE, probably a pick 26' in the late + 3 other available first to trade at the draft. They have some intriguing young guys who might take a leap.

I don't the doomerism around this team. They have assets, they have ways to get better. They are in no worse a situation from two years ago before they traded for KP and Jrue, They have the ammo to make moves like those again.

Its not a sure thing, it might fail, odds are always against you. But they aren't out of paths forward.

[GreenEnvy]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

It would have to start with Brown.  Now that we are under the second apron, I believe that this would be possible.  Aren't you the one that has been advocating to trade Brown for a while?  If we could somehow get Giannis for Brown (and probably some picks), I would be all for that.  But why would MIL?

Brown is only 2 years younger and a good player, but Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate.  And at a position that is harder to get a good player.  Maybe if MIL hires Nico Harrison or something.

Brown isn't good enough to be the main piece for Giannis.  Milwaukee would do way better.  Now if Boston has the 1st pick in the draft and Brown, maybe that starts to get there for the Bucks. 

Brown is simply not a high value asset. Very good player, but hs a huge contract, is injured a lot, and will be 30 right after the start of next season.  He can't be the best part of a trade for a MVP level player.  Just not good enough.

Of all the players of Giannis? level that actually got moved, what did they fetch? I don?t recall top-5 players getting traded for other top-10 players. Do they get young guys with top-10 potential, sure. But they usually get a boatload of picks, expiring contracts, etc?

Luka for AD was as close as it gets, but I don?t see AD?s value due to age and availability anywhere close to what it was when he was moved by New Orleans.

Milwaukee is going to have to appease Giannis and send him somewhere he wants to go. What team capable of being a contender has more to give up than a perennial all-star and FMVP?

I think the first two months of the season will be telling. If Brown looks good as the leader and the Celtics surprise awaiting Tatum, his stock could rise. Likewise, if Milwaukee doesn?t look good early they may have no choice in dealing him. Brown, Pritchard, picks and swaps may be more than any other preferred destination can offer?

I?m sure Giannis is plan A, but Brad has to have something up his sleeve.

[Neurotic Guy]

Though I don?t think there is any way Cs get Giannis, Tatum and Giannis would be deadly. Unquestionably a contender till Giannis breaks down. 3-4 year window.

[Vermont Green]

And how exactly would Boston trade for Giannis without any high value assets.

It would have to start with Brown.  Now that we are under the second apron, I believe that this would be possible.  Aren't you the one that has been advocating to trade Brown for a while?  If we could somehow get Giannis for Brown (and probably some picks), I would be all for that.  But why would MIL?

Brown is only 2 years younger and a good player, but Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate.  And at a position that is harder to get a good player.  Maybe if MIL hires Nico Harrison or something.

Brown isn't good enough to be the main piece for Giannis.  Milwaukee would do way better.  Now if Boston has the 1st pick in the draft and Brown, maybe that starts to get there for the Bucks. 

Brown is simply not a high value asset. Very good player, but has a huge contract, is injured a lot, and will be 30 right after the start of next season.  He can't be the best part of a trade for a MVP level player.  Just not good enough.

I don't think I am disagreeing.  I don't see MIL trading Giannis unless there is some kind of total meltdown.  But this thread is about what if MIL did reach a point for whatever reason, that they did put Giannis on the market.  If that were to occur, and BOS wanted to be involved, any discussion would start with Brown.  BOS probably would not have the best deal, but Brown would put them in the conversation.  As you say, our 2026 pick has some value as well.  Brown and the 2026 first is a good start in my mind.

I do think Brown is a high value asset though, not as high as Giannis, but high.  I don't see his contract as an issue.  Lesser players will be signing for more as time goes on.  Caps increase every year.  Again, in comparison to Giannis, a past MVP and perennially in the top 3 for MVP, Brown is not that.  But Luka got traded for Davis so who knows.

[jambr380]

One thing to keep in mind about MIL is that they don't control their future picks, so it would be in their best interest to acquire a player who is very good now rather than just young players so they can tank. A guy like Brown is still young enough that you can build around him in a few years and he is also good enough to ensure you don't tank (for no reason, losing fan interest along the way).

We'd have to add picks and a couple of players that MIL would want, but I do think it's viable...but only if Giannis asks out

[SparzWizard]

I'd start with Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard and a first round pick

C's will need another player back besides Giannis. Maybe a 3rd team can get involved esp from a tanking team or a team from the West