"The Celtics were among several playoff teams that reportedly pursued the two-time MVP. The Celtics remained quiet during the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean they stayed completely away from pursuing big names. According to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania, the Celtics were among several playoff teams that tried to land Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in February. The Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers all reportedly pursued Antetokounmpo."
"According to Charania, the way those teams finish the playoffs will play a "major" role in how aggressive they are in any upcoming pursuits this summer. Charania used the words "open for business" to describe where the Bucks are at in terms of fielding trade calls for Antetokounmpo. Meanwhile, the Celtics have some soul-searching to do after their third playoff collapse in four years."
"During his end-of-the-season press conference, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said that the Celtics need to add to their team in order to get where they want to go. He specifically said that the Celtics need to find ways to impact the rim in order to add variance to their shot selection. Antetokunmpo is one of the premier paint scorers in the NBA. He has shot better than 60 percent from the field over each of the last three seasons."
"The Celtics, as a team, were 27th in the league in points in the paint during the regular season at 44.3 per game. They led the league in 3-point attempts. Acquiring Antetokounmpo would require the Celtics to move significant amounts of salary and potentially some draft assets. The market for Antetokounmpo is expected to be "robust", according to ESPN with the Bucks looking to land a blue chip talent or lots of draft picks in return."
The Celtics were reported among several playoff teams that pursued Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in February. The Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers were all said to have tried to land him. How those teams finish the playoffs is expected to play a major role in how aggressive they are in upcoming pursuits. The Bucks were described as “open for business” regarding trade calls. The Celtics face roster questions after multiple playoff collapses, despite winning a title in 2024. Brad Stevens said the team needs to add players and impact the rim to create more variance in shot selection. Antetokounmpo is a top paint scorer, while Boston ranked 27th in points in the paint and led the league in 3-point attempts. Acquiring him would likely require major salary movement and possibly draft assets, with a robust market expected for a blue chip return or many picks.
Read at Boston.com
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