Kevin O’Connor reported this week that the Boston Celtics are actively making calls and are open to trading anybody on the roster except Jayson Tatum as they pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo. "I have heard Boston is shopping people around a lot right now," O’Connor said, and added, "That Boston is making calls, Boston is open to trading anybody besides Jayson Tatum."
O’Connor framed the move as part of a genuine push: "And that doesn’t necessarily mean they land Giannis at the end of the day. But I do believe, based off all the conversations I’ve had, is that the Celtics are in on Giannis." He went on to suggest the market might narrow quickly: "And if they are making a push on him and that this seems to be currently a two-team race with Milwaukee to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo." The Bucks plan to decide Antetokounmpo’s future before the NBA Draft, which is less than two weeks away.
The reports immediately put several Celtics under the trade microscope. Names repeatedly floated in coverage include Jaylen Brown and Derrick White; Brown’s recent resume — sixth in MVP voting this season and set to turn 30 in October — makes him one of the more obvious high-value pieces Boston could offer. At the same time, an NBA insider on a national broadcast said he had not heard anything about Brown or White being available for trade, underlining the split in reporting.
Those conflicting signals matter because Antetokounmpo’s situation compresses any timeline for a blockbuster. He has one year left on his deal followed by a player option; he also brings a championship, two MVP awards and seven consecutive All-NBA First Team selections. That combination of on-court value and contract timing raises the stakes on any proposed package and on how quickly the Bucks must respond.
Outside observers have weighed in on the competitive landscape. The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Eric Nehm called Boston a serious threat to Miami’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo, and multiple reports have said Antetokounmpo is intrigued by the idea of joining the Celtics. The public back-and-forth has also produced a media-side contradiction: this week Bill Simmons reversed an earlier view that Boston was out of the race, a pivot that has been noted alongside broader coverage of the situation.
The friction in the reporting is plain. O’Connor’s portrayal of Boston as willing to trade anyone but Tatum paints a front office prepared to remake the roster, while other commentators say they have not heard those players being shopped. That gap—between a source saying the Celtics are openly calling and other insiders denying specific player availability—leaves the contours of any offer unclear and the market confused.
For readers searching "bill simmons giannis celtics podcast," the essential facts are these: Boston is reported to be making calls and open to moving nearly every asset on the roster except Tatum; Antetokounmpo is a short-timer on his contract and the Bucks plan a decision before the Draft; and multiple outlets place Boston squarely in competition with Miami. Whether those calls turn into a formal package remains unresolved.
The next concrete step is procedural and fast: the Bucks’ decision, expected before the NBA Draft less than two weeks away. That deadline will force clarity—either a trade offer materializes from Boston, or Milwaukee chooses to keep Antetokounmpo and the rumor mill quiets. The single unanswered question that matters now is not whether the Celtics are willing to talk, but whether they can turn those calls into the specific collection of players, picks and protections Milwaukee demands before the draft clock runs out.
