While Giannis Antetokounmpo is headed from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat along with teammate Bobby Portis, another team was firmly in the hunt to acquire the superstar forward.
The Boston Celtics’ “aggressive pursuit” of Antetokounmpo came down to the wire, with ESPN’s Shams Charania revealing why it ultimately fell short.
Celtics’ Push For Giannis Antetokounmpo Proves Futile
In a detailed look at Boston’s well-documented chase for Antetokounmpo, Charania offered insights into the franchise’s unsuccessful trade negotiations with Milwaukee.
“The Bucks seriously negotiated with two finalists in recent weeks: the Heat and Boston Celtics, who were both on Antetokounmpo’s list of preferred destinations,” Charania wrote on Monday.
“The Celtics registered interest in Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline in February, and aggressively pursued him this time around, offering Milwaukee a package featuring 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, according to sources.
“The Bucks chose the Heat’s offer in order to bring more flexibility and big-picture approach with controlled contracts and long-term competitiveness for new coach Taylor Jenkins to imagine the next generation of Milwaukee — versus a veteran, win-now superstar player-led package that places the immediate focus on the present.
“Horst and Heat general manager Andy Elisburg finalized the agreement on Monday night. Celtics president Brad Stevens has not actively shopped Brown in trade talks, sources said, but the franchise has now offered him twice for future Hall of Famers over the past four offseasons. In 2022, Brown was the centerpiece of Boston’s proposal to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant,” Charania continued.
As for the full trade, according to ESPN, the Bucks dealt Antetokounmpo and Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 this year), one pick swap, and one second-rounder.
In 13 seasons with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo put up incredible numbers and received a plethora of awards.
Among his accolades are a 2021 NBA championship and NBA Finals MVP award, back-to-back league MVPs in 2019 and 2020, and 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He also became a 10-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selectee, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Antetokounmpo played in just 36 games for the Bucks in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Still, he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. The 31-year-old leaves Milwaukee as the franchise’s all-time leader in points, assists, rebounds, and blocks.
Now, Antetokounmpo will get to play alongside Bam Adebayo on a Heat team that is looking to take a major step forward after coming off a middling 43-39 finish. Meanwhile, Boston is left to wonder what might have been with the two-time MVP in its starting lineup next to Jayson Tatum.
