Poll: Yes Or No, Is Giannis YOUR #1 Offseason Target?

[Phantom255x]

Kind of like how especially in the past, at midnight when FA started you'd hear Shams/Woj just announce a big max FA signing and it'd continue over the next 24 hours as they trickled in. When Bucks ownership and the front office officially makes Giannis available for trade, are you going all-in and making sure he's on the Celtics?

This is not asking if you'd do a certain trade package for him, I'm just asking straight up, is Giannis the #1 target this offseason for you, period? He's easily the best guy that will be available in trade or FA unless somehow SGA or Jokic become available but that's not happening.

My answer is no. I'm just curious about this forum.

I'll be honest, a lot of my friends in real life say it's "Giannis or bust" this offseason and they'd have no problem trading Jaylen for him too, or even Jaylen + White for him and maybe another role player (or use the extra money to sign someone in FA). But either way, for them "Giannis or bust". Do people feel that way here?

[SparzWizard]

It's Giannis or bust for me.

We've seen 10 years of JT and JB together already and a lot of playoff failures than success. I expected more trophies. I started to sour with JB after blowing 2022 NBA Finals.

2022 chance to take a 3-1 series lead but lost Game 4 and kept turning the ball over
2023 Brown couldn't lead the pack as the #1 guy when Tatum went down at home in Game 7
2025 they blew 20-point leads at home
2026 blown 3-1 series lead; Brown could not lead the C's to the next round in Game 7 at home

We need new bloods and new faces leading the fray.

[ozgod]

I'm never a "need this player or bust at any cost" person, both in real life or sports fandom. The price has to be right and the fit has to be right. Whenever you go into a "'player name' or bust" mindset you always overpay and usually make a shortsighted decision. Just like Mat Ishbia when he was "Big Three or Bust", then he was "KD or bust" then he had "need a third star or bust". Or Morey with "PG13 or bust". It's like going into a car dealership and seeing a Ferrari sitting there and deciding "I want it" without thinking of anything else.

Thankfully (for those of us who are more impulsive) Brad is a bit more analytical and measured than having a "player or bust" mentality.

From a personal point of view, Giannis for Jaylen is intriguing and if that's all it was, I would be ok with it - if Jaylen is definitely got his heart set on leaving, and if Giannis definitely wants to come here and stay here for the long term, AND is healthy. Because the best ability is availability and Giannis's availability has dropped off from 90+% to the 70% mark in the last 4 years. Jaylen hasn't been that much better but he's been more consistent across years (obviously he's 2 years younger).

But by the same token I would be perfectly happy to see Jaylen retire a Celtic, as long as he continues to sacrifice for the team, as they all have to do to win a championship. I'm one of the exceptions here, but I'm not that unhappy with the season as a whole - I'm unhappy with how it ended, and it showed that the regular season masked flaws that need to be addressed because our role players overachieved in the regular season and were found out in the playoffs, but I think the season  had plenty to build on.

I think Brad hit the right notes in his press conference - he's not happy with how it ended and they have to get better, and he has to get better to tweak the roster, but I think it needs tweaks, not blowing up a partnership that has worked for 8 years. But he's never been afraid to make a big swing, our Brad - he's cold blooded in that sense so if he thinks Jaylen for Giannis makes the team better, both in terms of chemistry AND culture, I can also understand why.

[trickybilly]

Throw in AJ Green and Dieng and you have a deal!

[Celtic Fan Forever]

I am onboard. Clearly this is not working. 4 of the last 5 years have ended in disappointment and bad performances in big games. The 2024 title makes it no different , we had about as easy a run as possible. We need a shake up. Bringing in Giannis would be like getting KG in 07. We need something to that level. I do worry about his longevity though, similar to getting 32 year old KG who injured his knee after one year. But if we could guarantee a title next year I think it could be worth it.

[Who]

I am onboard. Clearly this is not working. 4 of the last 5 years have ended in disappointment and bad performances in big games. The 2024 title makes it no different , we had about as easy a run as possible. We need a shake up. Bringing in Giannis would be like getting KG in 07. We need something to that level. I do worry about his longevity though, similar to getting 32 year old KG who injured his knee after one year. But if we could guarantee a title next year I think it could be worth it.

Jaylen and Tatum could have another 6-8 year run at playing for a Championship. They can still win multiple Championships together before they are done.

1 title with Giannis wouldn't be enough for me.

[A Future of Stevens]

I voted yes because he is essentially the only player that will become available that is a talent upgrade to Brown. And even then, you are sacrificing a few years of prime. Also the history of big men is littered with declines starting essentially at 32/33.

I don't think we should trade Brown. It doesn't make sense to me to count this year against Brown. He dragged a team WAY past expectations. Coming up short in the playoffs in a year when most of Celtics fandom wanted them to bottom out...isn't really on him.

EditL: I don't want a pu pu platter of one or two players that one day with a few jumps up in talent COULD be Brown level and picks. Even if you think that is the right move, I think that would be signaling to Tatum that we aren't going all in on the here and now.

[jambr380]

I?m not Giannis or bust, but he should be the prime target.

Unlike others in this camp, I don?t think the Celtics have particularly disappointed through the Jays years. Making so many ECF and Finals and winning a Title is a real accomplishment. It is hard to win a Title and we shouldn?t take that for granted.

But we have disappointed the last couple of years, we have the Jays in their primes, and primes don?t last forever. For that reason, I would be on board with a number of Jaylen trades that bring in more talent and/or younger talent.

I appreciate what Jaylen has done for the Celtics all these years, but I do think he is somewhat overrated. A deserving All-Star and All-NBA player (this year), but he has his limitations, he?s not getting any younger, and he has a massive contract.

[Vermont Green]

I have been saying Giannis or bust, in fact, I may have started that, but when I say it, I mean it in the context of if we are going to trade Brown, my top choice is to get Giannis.  There are a bunch of other Brown trade ideas/possibilities, maybe even a couple of others that I would consider, but the idea of Just Keeping Jaylen Brown, is a perfectly good option also.

To consider this in terms of all possible off season targets, that may or may not involve trading Brown, I guess yes, Giannis would be at the top of my list of those that have a realistic possibility of being moved.  In a down year, on a bad team, playing with supposed injuries, he somehow managed to put up 28/10/5 with 62%/33%/67% shooting percentages.  Like to see the FT% up some, but those are his numbers in a season he was allegedly hampered by injuries (I am guessing not his favorite season).  The guy is still a stud and I believe will cotinine to be for at least 3 seasons (when he will be only 34 at the start), and then pretty darned good for a few more seasons after that.  Ongoing durability is a concern with Giannis, a lot of his game is based on athleticism, but so isn't Brown's.  That risk is just part of the cost of doing business.

[Celtics2021]

3 of the last four seasons Giannis either missed the playoffs due to injury, would have been questionable at best for the playoffs due to injury if his team had made it (this year), or was hurt early in the first round.  Heck, the one year he made it through unscathed his team lost in 5 games, so who knows how long he would have lasted.

There was a time when such a trade would have been an obvious yes.  That time is long past, and it is much closer to an obvious no.  He just is not someone who seems likely to be available into May, much less June, at this point.

[jambr380]

3 of the last four seasons Giannis either missed the playoffs due to injury, would have been questionable at best for the playoffs due to injury if his team had made it (this year), or was hurt early in the first round.  Heck, the one year he made it through unscathed his team lost in 5 games, so who knows how long he would have lasted.

There was a time when such a trade would have been an obvious yes.  That time is long past, and it is much closer to an obvious no.  He just is not someone who seems likely to be available into May, much less June, at this point.

Jayson Tatum has also missed the last game of the Celtics season 3 of the last 4 years. Well, not technically in 2023, but he was injured on basically the first play of the game. Sometimes guys get hurt at an inopportune time. What Giannis does is raise the team's ceiling even if there's no guarantee we win anything.

I'm not going to be heartbroken if we don't acquire Giannis, but I don't think we should be surprised to see major changes based on Brad's comments. He had a whole monologue planned before the press conference even began. And it was an unprompted press conference to begin with.

[Phantom255x]

3 of the last four seasons Giannis either missed the playoffs due to injury, would have been questionable at best for the playoffs due to injury if his team had made it (this year), or was hurt early in the first round.  Heck, the one year he made it through unscathed his team lost in 5 games, so who knows how long he would have lasted.

There was a time when such a trade would have been an obvious yes.  That time is long past, and it is much closer to an obvious no.  He just is not someone who seems likely to be available into May, much less June, at this point.

Yeah he's been dealing with some knee/calf issues over the past two years. That makes me wary as well, just feels he could be a ticking time bomb with that situation

[Vermont Green]

3 of the last four seasons Giannis either missed the playoffs due to injury, would have been questionable at best for the playoffs due to injury if his team had made it (this year), or was hurt early in the first round.  Heck, the one year he made it through unscathed his team lost in 5 games, so who knows how long he would have lasted.

There was a time when such a trade would have been an obvious yes.  That time is long past, and it is much closer to an obvious no.  He just is not someone who seems likely to be available into May, much less June, at this point.

Fair point, there is risk with Giannis.  If you look at several older players, I see tiers of risk.  The highest risks are guys like Kawhi, Embiid, Porzingis, and maybe Butler.  Guys who have not even really played a half a season in a while, much less made it through a playoff run.  Then there is a tier of guys like LeBron, Curry, Durant, maybe some others (Donovan Mitchell maybe), where sure, there is some risk, some regular season minutes management required, but these guys can still help the team win playoff games.  This is the tier I put Giannis in.

As a fan, it is hard to know.  A player can go from one tier to a worse tier quickly and maybe the inherent wear and tear on Giannis is already worse than I realize.  Still seems worth the risk to me.

[aefgogreen]

I?m not Giannis or bust, but he should be the prime target.

Unlike others in this camp, I don?t think the Celtics have particularly disappointed through the Jays years. Making so many ECF and Finals and winning a Title is a real accomplishment. It is hard to win a Title and we shouldn?t take that for granted.

But we have disappointed the last couple of years, we have the Jays in their primes, and primes don?t last forever. For that reason, I would be on board with a number of Jaylen trades that bring in more talent and/or younger talent.

I appreciate what Jaylen has done for the Celtics all these years, but I do think he is somewhat overrated. A deserving All-Star and All-NBA player (this year), but he has his limitations, he?s not getting any younger, and he has a massive contract.

I agree with you - Giannis and Jokic only have one title. I've stood up for Coach Mazz in the past, but I think we need a new coach.  We've consistently underachieved in the playoffs as he hasn't been able to make the needed adjustments.  Yes, I know we won a championship under him, but I think there are plenty of coaches could have won with that roster and playoff path.  I'm hesitant to give up Brown for Giannis unless I see more evidence than a twitch 24 hours after a game that he wants out.

[Donoghus]

3 of the last four seasons Giannis either missed the playoffs due to injury, would have been questionable at best for the playoffs due to injury if his team had made it (this year), or was hurt early in the first round.  Heck, the one year he made it through unscathed his team lost in 5 games, so who knows how long he would have lasted.

There was a time when such a trade would have been an obvious yes.  That time is long past, and it is much closer to an obvious no.  He just is not someone who seems likely to be available into May, much less June, at this point.

This is where I'm at.  Obviously, the talent alone is salivating but there are real health concerns going forward with Giannis. I'm not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze at this point.