Giannis Antetokounmpo Opens Door For Celtics Trade With Two-Word Comment
Giannis Antetokounmpo Opens Door For Celtics Trade With Two-Word Comment originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Celtics season is over, and Brad Stevens has hinted at making moves in the offseason to improve the impact the team can have at the rim.
“My general feeling watching us play in really each of the last two playoffs — the second round against New York, even against Orlando in the first round (last year) — was we had a hard time generating really good looks on that first shot,” Stevens said on Wednesday. “So we’ve got to figure out a way to do better in that, and I think that one of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim. And I think we do need to add to our team to do that.
” Giannis Antetokounmpo is certainly a player who could change the impact the Celtics have at the rim. His future in Milwaukee is up in the air, and the Celtics have already been tabbed as a team to watch for him. NBA insider Marc Stein called the Celtics a team to keep an "eye on" on Monday in regards to Antetokounmpo.
On Wednesday, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged that Antetokounmpo may not be with the team next season and that they will hope to figure that out in the coming weeks. Antetokounmpo has not made a public trade request and has always spoken highly of Milwaukee. However, he himself opened the door to leave amid rumors on Wednesday.
"We'll see," Antetokounmpo said to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jim Owczarski when asked if he would be around for Taylor Jenkins to coach him next season. With the Celtics already seen as a landing spot, trade rumors should pick up more steam now that Antetokounmpo himself has acknowledged that he is unsure if he will be with the Bucks. Until now, Antetokounmpo has said that if the team trades him, it will not be because he wants to leave.