Celtics miss – The Celtics’ push for Giannis Antetokounmpo fell short after Milwaukee traded the two-time MVP to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, several key young players, and multiple draft picks. Boston had offered Jaylen Brown and two first-round selections, b
For the Boston Celtics. it was the kind of offseason swing that feels like it should change everything—then it didn’t. Milwaukee ultimately chose Miami in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. trading the two-time MVP to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster deal. leaving Boston to recalibrate its plans without the superstar it pursued.
Milwaukee’s reported trade sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami. In return, Miami received Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13), one pick swap, and one second-round selection.
Boston’s offer, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania, included Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks. Charania also reported that the Celtics made the case to Milwaukee as one of the finalists in negotiations, trying to reshape its roster around Jayson Tatum and add “impact at the rim.”
The Celtics’ push came after a painful April when Boston suffered a shocking first-round exit at the hands of the Sixers. Brad Stevens. the Celtics president of basketball of operations. emphasized that the team wanted to add more “impact at the rim” moving forward. A player like Antetokounmpo was seen as a natural fit for that direction. especially as Boston looked to stay competitive against other contenders across the NBA landscape such as the Knicks. Spurs. and Thunder in 2026-27.
There were obvious questions around Antetokounmpo too. Charania’s report acknowledged the concerns that often surface in deals like this—especially his age and recent injury woes—but the case for him has always started with the resume. Over 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a championship in 2021. won two MVP awards. secured NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020. and earned 10 All-Star nods.
He also accomplished two rare feats before turning 26: he became just the third NBA player in league history—after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James—to win two MVPs before turning 26 years old. He was also the third player in league history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same year. joining Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan.
Even with the uncertainty that comes with any late-career projection, the basketball fit was clear. Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game during the 2025-26 season with the Bucks. He finished sixth in the league in total dunks with 142 despite appearing in 36 games. and he led the league in that category over the previous two years from 2023-25. Listed at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he also brings defense that can change possessions rather than just complement them.
Now, the offseason’s math shifts. Boston still has Jaylen Brown to consider, while Milwaukee’s trade reshapes the foundation the Celtics tried to pry loose.
Brown himself offered a glimpse of how he’s been processing the noise. Speaking on his Twitch stream on Sunday while training with Olympic sprinter Noah Lyles. Brown said he understood the discourse surrounding himself and the Bucks. “Somewhat grateful, because I get to see some negativity that I didn’t want. But that just gives more fuel to the fire,” Brown said. He added. “I see some comments. or takes. that I didn’t even care to see. but it just gives me more fuel to the fire.”.
He then framed the doubt as motivation, telling viewers, “To all the people who have doubted me, that want me to do this or want me gone, you’re turning me into a monster.”
After Charania’s report that Brown was indeed part of the offer to Milwaukee for Giannis. the next steps for Boston—and what becomes of Brown and the Celtics’ remaining roster needs—remain unresolved. The deal sends Antetokounmpo to Miami. and it leaves Stevens and the Celtics with the same task. only harder: finding the upgrades that can compensate for the swing they couldn’t complete.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Celtics Bucks Heat Jaylen Brown Bobby Portis Tyler Herro Kel’el Ware Jaime Jaquez Jr. Kasparas Jakucionis NBA trade 2026 offseason