Giannis Antetokounmpo 's drawn-out future could be settled within hours — and the resolution may not be as simple as it first looks.
The trade saga has dragged on for more than a year, with a long list of suitors circling the Milwaukee Bucks star. By Monday, the field had narrowed to two. The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are the finalists, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
But whichever team gets there, building a package that works won't be easy — and Charania pointed to a recent blockbuster as the reason why. He also expects an answer fast, likely before Tuesday night's NBA Draft.
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Charania laid out the state of play on ESPN's Get Up!
He said: "Sources tell me a trade and a resolution is coming for the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA Draft on Tuesday night. The Bucks are in serious conversations with two finalists, the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics."
"Both teams are Giannis's preferred trade destinations, but both of these packages are different deals. The variance of these deals is drastic. It's dramatic."
"With Boston, it's a Jaylen Brown-led package. It's around a veteran player, obviously a superstar-caliber player. In Miami, it's a group of cost-controlled players, rookie-scale contracts, significant draft capital in that deal."
The Celtics' decision to make Brown available in their pursuit is what nudged them in front. The field had been busier than two, though — a Western Conference suitor reemerged in Minnesota only days ago, before Boston and Miami pulled clear.
He said: "Whichever deal occurs, whether it's today or tomorrow, it is going to be a one-to-one deal. It's going to consist of Milwaukee and likely one of these two teams. There's no third or fourth team in any construct right now.
"Now, the sides could leave this open. Remember when Kevin Durant was traded a year ago in June, it ended up just being uh you know, it ended with those two teams, but it turned into seven total teams by the end of the off-season. And so, that could certainly happen here."
When the Phoenix Suns agreed to send Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets last June, it started as a two-team deal. It evolved into the largest deal the league has ever seen.
Whichever permutation ends up materialising, Charania believes the wait is nearly over.
He concluded: "Giannis, my understanding right now, he is ready to be traded. Either Boston or Miami, and we'll see what happens over the next 24 hours."
Lining up the salaries and assets for an MVP-level talent is rarely simple, and the Durant saga is a reminder of how messy these deals can turn.
Tricky as it may be, every sign now points to Giannis finally suiting up somewhere new in the days ahead.
