Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors have dragged the Boston Celtics into the conversation, but Brian Windhorst is not treating that link as fully real yet.
The speculation has been building for more than a year as Milwaukee 's future around Antetokounmpo has become less certain.
Boston's embarrassing 2026 playoff exit only made the idea louder, because the Celtics are still close enough to contention to think big.
Windhorst pushed back on the Boston angle by pointing to two things he has not heard confirmed.
"I have not heard that Boston is on Giannis's list. I have not heard that Giannis is prepared to sign the extension with Boston… Just because I haven't heard doesn't mean it's not true. But until those two things are true, I don't think it's really something that's in the world of reality."
That matters because Giannis does not have a no-trade clause, but any team moving elite assets would want confidence that he will sign long-term.
The cleanest Boston package would center on Jaylen Brown, matching star money while giving Milwaukee a proven All-NBA level return.
A realistic version could be Brown, Payton Pritchard , Jordan Walsh , and multiple first-round picks for Giannis. That would leave Boston with Jayson Tatum and Antetokounmpo as the new core.
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
If Boston stayed competitive after a trade, an extension would be easier to sell. The Celtics last missed the playoffs in 2014, have made the postseason every year since, and reached six Eastern Conference Finals from 2017 to 2024.
The dreamier version keeps Brown. That would require Derrick White , Sam Hauser , Pritchard, Neemias Queta , and major draft capital, creating a Giannis, Brown, and Tatum big three but stripping Boston's depth.
That track record is the Celtics' best argument. Even after this year's ugly exit, Boston can pitch structure, stars, and a decade of postseason reliability.
The Miami link is currently stronger than the Boston one, and Windhorst framed it that way on ESPN on Monday morning.
"The team to watch here is Miami. Miami would say, 'We got Tyler Herro , who is a young player and has been an All-Star. We got draft picks, including the 13th pick in this draft…' And Giannis, I think, wants to be in Miami. There are more check marks on Miami. I'm not sure Boston is ready to trade Jaylen Brown."
The Heat are widely viewed as the leading contender because Giannis has long been linked to Miami's culture, and prior reporting has suggested he would be more likely to extend there.
A Miami offer could include Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. , Nikola Jovic, Kel'el Ware, the No. 13 pick, and future firsts, ideally while keeping Bam Adebayo.
Boston can build a bigger fantasy. Miami still looks like the more realistic destination.
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