RealGM Basketball Wiretap

14 June 2026

• Celtics Made Offer For Giannis Antetokounmpo Last Week

  The Boston Celtics reportedly made an offer to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo last week, according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. Boston has "dove in" on the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

  This was a change in tune from Simmons, who had previously reported that he heard Boston wasn't involved in trading for Antetokounmpo. Simmons said he doesn't know what changed the Celtics minds, but that they are now involved in dealing for the superstar forward.

  It's been rumored that any trade for Antetokounmpo would involve the Celtics dealing Jaylen Brown to the Bucks or to a third team, which would then route draft capital and young talent to Milwaukee. Rumored third teams have included the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and others.

• Karl-Anthony Towns Never Got 'Vindictive' Over Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Talks

  Karl-Anthony Towns faced trade speculation involving Giannis Antetokounmpo during his first offseason with the New York Knicks in 2025, a situation that could have disrupted the team's championship run before it began.

  The Milwaukee Bucks and Knicks engaged in a multi-week discussion in August 2025 regarding a potential blockbuster trade involving Antetokounmpo. New York never appeared especially interested in pursuing the deal.

  The Knicks also did not offer Towns a contract extension entering the season, and coach Mike Brown's early comments about adjustments to Towns' role added further uncertainty around the center's standing with the franchise.

  Despite the speculation, those close to Towns say he remained unaffected by the rumors.

  "[Towns] wasn't looking around the locker room saying, 'Who wants Giannis here instead of me,'" a source close to Towns told ESPN during the season. "He wants to be in New York. He's a great compartmentalizer, and he wasn't going to be vindictive about it."

  Towns went on to play a central role in New York's championship run, especially in the initial two games of the Finals, which culminated in a five-game NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks' first title in 53 years.

• Bucks' Handling Of Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks At Trade Deadline Slowing Current Activity

  The trade market for Giannis Antetokounmpo has been slow to take shape, and rival teams say the Milwaukee Bucks' handling of trade discussions at the February deadline is a primary reason, according to league sources.

  During the deadline period, Bucks general manager Jon Horst opened talks to any team willing to make a pitch for the two-time MVP. As the deadline approached, Milwaukee signaled a genuine willingness to deal its most accomplished player in franchise history. Antetokounmpo ultimately remained with the Bucks, fueling skepticism among rivals about the organization's true intentions.

  Several teams now view that process as a fact-finding mission designed to gauge the market ahead of the summer rather than a sincere attempt to complete a trade. Some front offices are now pressing the Bucks to present concrete terms they would accept, rather than engaging in prolonged back-and-forth negotiations.

  Teams are wary of surfacing prominent players in trade discussions only to see those relationships strained if a deal falls apart. The reaction of Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, who unfollowed the Heat on social media amid trade speculation, illustrates the locker-room risk teams are trying to avoid.

  Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam has set the June 23 NBA draft as his target for resolution. Whether rival teams engage more seriously as that deadline approaches remains the central question surrounding one of the offseason's most consequential roster decisions.

  The Bucks have signaled that they expect to acquire additional draft picks and their evaluation of offers will heavily focus on tradeable first round picks.

• Wolves Keeping Jaden McDaniels, Joan Beringer Untouchable In Giannis Trade Talks

  The Minnesota Timberwolves remain interested in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but have indicated that both Jaden McDaniels and Joan Beringer are off-limits, sources tell The Athletic.

  Sources say the Milwaukee Bucks are interested in acquiring a package of McDaniels, Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr. and their two tradable first-round picks (No. 29 in this year's draft and their 2033 pick). The Wolves also have up to two first-round picks swaps available.

  Antetokounmpo has a preference to remain in the Eastern Conference, but the Wolves would offer him an opportunity to pair with another top-10 player in the NBA in Anthony Edwards. It is unclear if Antetokounmpo would be willing to commit to a long-term extension with the Wolves.

  Tim Connelly has been consistently aggressive during his tenure with the Wolves beginning with their 2022 trade for Rudy Gobert that accelerated their timeline for contention. Connelly has also pursued trades for Kevin Durant both at the 2025 deadline and again before his trade to the Houston Rockets in June of 2025.

  More recently, the Wolves have also been linked with Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Uncertainty Freezes NBA Activity Ahead Of Draft

  The Milwaukee Bucks have exhibited a heightened urgency to reach a trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the NBA draft on Tuesday, June 23rd, sources tell ESPN. Co-owner Jimmy Haslam went on the record indicating that the Bucks planned to trade Antetokounmpo by the draft if he didn't firmly commit his future to the Bucks. Because of Antetokounmpo's still to be determined trade status, other teams are in a holding pattern on their own offseason plans.

  "It seems like everyone else's business is on hold until we see what happens with Giannis," said an East scout.

  The Bucks trading Antetokounmpo is still not guaranteed. Moving a superstar on a large contract is difficult under the NBA's current apron rules, and Milwaukee carries dead money on its books through the end of the decade while holding minimal future draft capital.

  Those factors could make a player-focused return package more appealing to the Bucks. Recent changes to draft lottery rules add further complexity to any potential negotiation.

  What Milwaukee requires in a deal, and whether Antetokounmpo will publicly declare a preferred destination and signal he would only sign an extension with that team remain unanswered questions. Sources say the Miami Heat retain strong interest and would be the primary beneficiary of that scenario.

  Antetokounmpo has consistently declined to publicly request a trade or name preferred destinations in recent years, and that posture is not expected to shift.

  Miami can offer a package built around All-Star guard Tyler Herro, a Wisconsin native, alongside younger players including Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis. Should the Cleveland Cavaliers or Orlando Magic enter the bidding, both could potentially surpass Miami's offer if players such as Evan Mobley or Paolo Banchero are made available.

  The Boston Celtics have resurfaced in trade rumors involving Antetokounmpo this week.

• Warriors, Wolves, Magic Not Factoring Into Recent Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Talks

  The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors were both prominent suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo in February ahead of the trade deadline when the Milwaukee Bucks briefly opened trade discussions, but neither team has factored into recent talks, sources tell Jake Fischer.

  The Orlando Magic have also not engaged in meaningful recent dialogue with the Bucks, despite notable ties to Antetokounmpo. Magic senior advisor John Hammond and president of basketball Jeff Weltman originally drafted Antetokounmpo during their time with Milwaukee.

  Incoming Magic head coach Sean Sweeney, hired away from the San Antonio Spurs, also worked closely with Antetokounmpo as a Bucks assistant for four seasons early in his career.

  The Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers have emerged as the two most active teams in trade discussions to this point. The Heat are the team with the strongest mutual interest as there is skepticism that Antetokounmpo would commit to the Blazers long-term. The Boston Celtics remain on the periphery as a potential entrant into the conversation.

  Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded by draft night on Tuesday, June 23rd.

• Celtics Resurface As Potential Trade Destination For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  Giannis Antetokounmpo has been trending towards a trade to the Miami Heat over the past few days, but Bill Simmons indicated on his Thursday podcast that he's received information that the Boston Celtics have reemerged as a potential destination.

  Antetokounmpo is believed to have a preference to remain in the Eastern Conference with the Celtics and Heat on his radar. Simmons had previously indicated that a trade for Antetokounmpo by the Celtics was unlikely and that the front office had a preference to keep their core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White together.

  "I thought Boston was out of this," said Simmons. "I know Boston was out of this. And I was wondering if they were playing possum or now. I think they were playing a little possum. I think they're in on Giannis.

  "I'm not recanting what I said before. I don't really know the reasons for it. Maybe they felt like Miami's offer was an offer they can beat? Maybe they want to drive up the price of Miami's offer up and they don't actually have interest in him.

  "But as I said over and over again, Giannis is pushing for Miami and Boston-those are the two locations. And really wants to end up in Boston because he would have the best chance to win a title. And I think Boston is not ruling out the idea. That's my intel.

  "And in general I'm prepared for anything with Boston now. I think you can basically say... it goes back to the Brad Stevens' speech right after the Philly series when he was really mad about the result and really questioning whether this was the right style and whether they needed to be in the paint more. I wonder if they're going to use this opportunity with the assets they have and the $27 million trade exception to completely change what this team looks like.

  "Who knows? They may not do anything. But I thought they were sitting out this Giannis thing, but I no longer think that. That's all I'm going to say."

  On draft night, the Celtics could trade up to four future first round picks and two swaps, per our Tradeable Picks page.

  A trade involving Antetokounmpo has been expected to be executed by the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday, June 23rd.

  On Thursday, Jake Fischer reported that he has also received information that the Celtics are lurking as a potential Antetokounmpo destination. The Celtics have yet to engage in any meaningful conversations with the Bucks, but their potential to get involved "genuinely concerns Miami."

• Bucks Could Wait On Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Until After Finals In Case Knicks Reenter Talks

  The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to resolve the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo by the draft, but they could be waiting on a possible trade until after the Finals in case the New York Knicks decide to reenter trade conversations. The Knicks and Bucks held brief trade talks last offseason when Antetokounmpo signaled a preference to be traded to New York. The conversations at that point never progressed to the point of seriousness.

  The Knicks were considered fully out of the trade talks when going up 2-0 behind strong play of Karl-Anthony Towns, but it is unpredictable how they might react to the disappointment if they do not win the championship this season.

  The Miami Heat are currently considered the favorites to acquire Antetokounmpo, but their offer is beatable by several potential bidders that have so far been on the sidelines.

  When the Knicks and Bucks held talks, Mikal Bridges was one of the potential trade pieces that was ineligible to be included due to a recently signed contract extension.

  The Knicks can trade up to two first round picks and three swaps on draft night.

  Antetokounmpo can become a free agent in 2027 and possesses the capacity to influence his next destination should he decide to apply that leverage.

• Bucks Expected To Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo Before Draft; Heat Remain Favored Destination

  The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA Draft on June 23, according to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  The team is operating as if it will receive an extra first-round pick in addition to the current No. 10 pick.

  The Bucks also prefer waiting until after the NBA Finals to trade Antetokounmpo as they want to see if the Knicks blow a 2-0 Finals lead and re-enter trade discussions.

  The Heat are said to be on top of Antetokounmpo's list of destinations, though the Celtics are also in play.

  The Bucks are looking to include the Blazers in any multi-team deal to reacquire draft capital from the Damian Lillard trade before the 2023-24 season.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Believed To Prefer Trade To Heat

  The Miami Heat are believed to be the favorites to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and that is preferred destination this offseason. In the summer of 2025, Antetokounmpo signaled to the Milwaukee Bucks that he wanted to be traded to the New York Knicks, who are now in the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs without him.

  "The team to watch here is Miami," said Brian Windhorst on Monday's episode of Get Up. "Giannis, I think, wants to be in Miami."

  The Boston Celtics have also been linked with Antetokounmpo with Jaylen Brown being a logical piece as a return, but Windhorst added that the Celtics likely are not trading Brown for Antetokounmpo.

  "Giannis has a seat in the table whether or not they want to admit it or not," said Windhorst.

  Windhorst also confirmed that the expectation around the NBA is that Antetokounmpo will be traded by the draft.

  The Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers have also been linked with Antetokounmpo, but there currently appears to be the most momentum for the Heat.

  The Heat have been trading as the favorites to acquire Antetokounmpo for most of the offseason, according to Polymarket, with a few occasional spikes for the Celtics. As of Monday afternoon, the Heat are above 50 percent to acquire Antetokounmpo.