NBA insider Chris Haynes cautioned on Wednesday that the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes may not wrap up by the Bucks‘ self-imposed – and unofficial – draft-day deadline, indicating that the saga could stretch into July. However, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) remains optimistic that there will be resolution in the coming days.
As Fischer explains, the Bucks have been “very, very busy” preparing for the draft, doing their homework on players in multiple ranges and operating as if they expect to have additional picks beyond their lone current selection at No. 10. League sources tell Fischer that Milwaukee has been carrying itself in recent days as if it will control the No. 13 selection, which would be included in the Heat‘s package for Antetokounmpo.
Miami and the Celtics have been the teams most frequently linked to Antetokounmpo as of late, and league sources tell Fischer that’s largely because Giannis is believed to be comfortable signing a contract extension with either team.
By contrast, while the Trail Blazers seemed prepared back in February to surrender up to four years worth of draft capital for Giannis without any guarantees that he’d sign an extension in Portland, there’s a sense that the Blazers are no longer willing to be that aggressive, Fischer writes. Fischer suggests that’s because Antetokounmpo is unlikely to extend in Portland, but I wonder if the recent changes to the draft lottery format may also factor into the Blazers’ thinking, making them less willing to part with high-upside first-rounders.
Here’s more on the Giannis situation:
- Although the Celtics would be in position to beat Miami’s best offer for Antetokounmpo by offering up All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown and other sweeteners, it’s unclear if Boston is prepared to put that sort of package on the table. Fischer hears that the Celtics are getting “frustrated with the process” and says one source close to the situation told him talk about finding a third team for Brown is premature.
- The general sense has been that if the Celtics are willing to part with Brown, Milwaukee would want to send him elsewhere because he wouldn’t fit the Bucks’ rebuilding timeline. For his part, Brown wouldn’t be eager to join the Bucks, according to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears. “I know the Bucks don’t love the Miami deal, but it appears to be the best deal,” Spears said on ESPN’s SportsCenter earlier this week (Twitter video link). “The Celtics, I’m hearing, would love to sneak in and get (Antetokounmpo). That might mean moving Jaylen Brown to another place. I know Jaylen wouldn’t want to play for Milwaukee.”
- Fischer adds that the idea of the Clippers getting involved and giving up the No. 5 overall pick as part of a package for Brown doesn’t appear to be a concept that’s being seriously discussed. L.A. isn’t operating like a team interested in trading that fifth overall pick for a veteran, he says.
- The Heat have begun to make calls in search of shooting help in case they’re able to land Antetokounmpo and pair him with Bam Adebayo, Fischer reports.
- Fischer has also heard that the Bucks would like to send out Bobby Portis as part of a Giannis trade if a deal comes to fruition, as was previously reported.
