The Milwaukee Bucks are actively soliciting final offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo (27.6 pts, 9.8 reb, 5.4 ast this season) ahead of a self-imposed June 23 deadline tied to the NBA Draft. The Boston Celtics have now signaled willingness to engage in trade talks, per Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports – adding a credible second bidder to a market the Bucks have been trying to heat up for weeks.
The Miami Heat remain the frontrunners. Antetokounmpo has made no secret of his interest in Florida, and the Heat’s front office submitted the most aggressive offer to date – one Milwaukee turned down. But Boston’s name entering the conversation changes the calculus.
What Milwaukee wants
The Bucks are not looking to move Antetokounmpo for a collection of young players. They want to recover draft capital surrendered in the Damian Lillard trade with Portland, and a multi-team structure involving the Trail Blazers remains a scenario league executives are monitoring. Owner Jimmy Haslam has pushed for resolution before the June 23 draft – leaving Milwaukee roughly ten days to finalize something.
The Celtics have not entered meaningful discussions yet, according to reports. Their willingness to listen is enough to shift leverage. Boston holds significant young assets, and any team that forces Miami into a bidding war has the upper hand.
What’s at stake
Antetokounmpo is still under contract, but his relationship with Milwaukee has soured. The franchise missed the playoffs for the first time since his breakout season, and Haslam has concluded that a trade now serves everyone better than another year of uncertainty.
For the Heat, landing the Greek would be a franchise-defining move. For the Celtics – already built around Jayson Tatum – adding a two-time MVP would make them the immediate title favorite heading into 2026-27. Ten days, two serious bidders, one of the biggest trades the league has seen in years is taking shape.
