Updated June 23, 2026, 12:53 a.m. ET
While there were reports that the Boston Celtics were in the driver’s seat when it came to landing Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade this summer, the Miami Heat may have leapfrogged them as of Monday night. According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo is headed to South Beach in exchange for a large Heat haul including Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-rounder.
The Celtics’ reported trade package — which was headlined by star guard Jaylen Brown and also featured two first-round picks — was not enough to woo the Bucks. Boston and Miami were the major contenders in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes and although the deal can be altered ahead of July 6, it looks like the rival Heat bested the C’s in the blockbuster trade war.
After failing to acquire Antetokounmpo, the Celtics are left to pick up the pieces. Can they retain Brown despite publicly throwing him in a potential trade for the second time in four years? It’s worth noting that Celtics President of Basketball Operations “has not actively shopped Brown in trade talks,” per Charania’s sources, so perhaps the relationship is in tact or can be repaired.
If not, the front office has a lot of work to do this summer. Long hours will be necessary over the next two days at least, as the 2026 NBA Draft begins Tuesday night and wraps up on Wednesday night. The Celtics hold the No. 27 pick in the first round and the No. 40 overall pick in the second. Whether or not they keep these selections remains to be seen, but the Green Team’s path forward should be clearer by the end of the draft.
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