Dave Portnoy wants Giannis Antetokounmpo in Boston , but even he admits the Celtics ' decision is not simple.
The Celtics have suddenly become a major player in the biggest trade story of the offseason.
That is forcing fans to ask what problem a blockbuster would solve.
Portnoy weighed the upside of chasing Antetokounmpo against the flaws he sees in Boston's core, especially late-game shot creation.
"Of course I want Giannis… This currently constructed Celtics team, we don't have a true point guard. What makes championship teams a lot of the time is having a guy you can give the ball to, and it's a bucket… Every championship team needs that No. 1 guy. Celtics, Tatum and Brown, have never been that A guy. They don't create their shot that easily. Does Giannis fix that? Maybe, but I'm not a 100% sure. The Celtics have to change, they are flawed right now, they're getting worse every year."
Portnoy is not dismissing Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown , but he is questioning whether Boston has the reliable offensive anchor needed to survive playoff moments.
Monday morning made that question sharper. Marc Stein reported that Boston now has a real shot at Antetokounmpo through a Jaylen Brown-centered offer, and that Milwaukee has considered moving forward without a third-team facilitator.
ESPN reporting also framed Boston and Miami as the two realistic teams left, with Milwaukee hoping for clarity before the NBA Draft. Boston may be deciding whether Brown is the price of landing a two-time MVP.
Miami now has to respond. A package built around Tyler Herro , Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the No. 13 pick may need Detroit to take Herro, or a four-team or five-team structure, to match Brown's value.
Portnoy's hesitation is fair because Antetokounmpo is not a clean answer to every half-court problem.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Elite playoff defenses have built walls in front of him before, forcing kickouts, crowded drives and late-clock decisions. If Boston loses Brown's perimeter creation and does not replace enough spacing, that issue can follow Giannis to TD Garden.
The counterargument is 2021. Antetokounmpo averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in the Finals, then closed Phoenix with 50 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks in Game 6.
That was the kind of No. 1 option Portnoy is describing. Giannis carried the Bucks' offense to a title, so he is a certified No. 1 option when the stakes are at the highest, which is not something one can say conclusively about either Brown or Tatum.
The Celtics must decide if that version still appears often enough to justify losing Brown. Portnoy's take reflects the front office dilemma: Giannis is worth pursuing, but not without fear.
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