With the Bucks not making the playoffs and the Lakers’ season ending in the conference semis, trade rumors around Giannis Antetokounmpo and speculation around LeBron James’ free agency are already taking shape.
Antetokounmpo enters the guaranteed year of his contract with Milwaukee. Since winning the title in 2021, the Bucks haven’t made it past the conference semis and have recorded three successive first-round defeats before hitting a new low last season by not making the postseason. Antetokounmpo was committed to Milwaukee before, but towards the end, the relationship soured.
The Bucks shut him down as the playoff picture became clearer, and Antetokounmpo said he was healthy enough to play. In March, Bucks’ co-owner Wes Edens said a trade or an extension was on the cards. On Wednesday, Milwaukee’s other co-owner, Jimmy Haslam, said the organization will solve the Antetokounmpo question before the NBA draft on June 23.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that James and the Lakers’ front office are not seeing eye to eye as he enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent for the first time. Previously, James had player options he declined until 2024 and signed new deals. In 2025, he opted in and played on an expiring deal. A retirement remains on the cards, but if he plays, not many are sure about a return to the Lakers.
Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James’ uncertain futures, Celtics analyst Jeff Goodman has made a wild proposal seeing the duo join Jayson Tatum.
“What about this – you get Giannis for Jaylen Brown and then you go get LeBron,” Goodman said on Wednesday on his podcast.
Boston can be a realistic destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The franchise just faced a first-round exit despite being up 3-1 and might look for major upgrades around Jayson Tatum. Jaylen Brown had an MVP-caliber year, but questions about his chemistry with Tatum have re-emerged despite their 2024 championship run. The Celtics have the picks, a contract like Brown’s, and a few young assets they can ship to Milwaukee in a deal.
However, LeBron James’ potential free agency move to the Celtics may be unlikely. James would likely have to settle for a minimum contract. If that’s the case, he might eye a storybook ending in Cleveland rather than Boston. His chances of returning to LA also seem strong, as it has been his home for the past eight years and his son, Bronny, is under a guaranteed contract with the Lakers for another season.
NBA insider reports Celtics aren’t in the frontrunner tier for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
While the Boston Celtics make sense as a trade destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA insider Chris Mannix has ruled the franchise out as a frontrunner. Mannix has reported that the Miami Heat are high on Antetokounmpo’s list and will be among the first to call the Bucks about a trade.
Antetokounmpo reportedly has wishlisted the Heat among his preferred landing spots at the last deadline. The Heat could have up to four first-round picks to trade in 2026, 2029, 2031 and 2033, along with contracts like Tyler Herro’s, Andrew Wiggins’ and possibly Kel’el Ware’s.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will have the final say over his trade destination, so it won’t just be about the Bucks at the end of the day and their preferred packages.
