The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in almost three decades, and at this rate, they're looking like the team to beat in the East for years to come.
Not even two years ago, that title belonged to the Boston Celtics, who had just won their 18th championship in franchise history. But they lost to this same Knicks team in the second round of last year's playoffs and are fresh off a first-round collapse against the Philadelphia 76ers, when they lost in seven games after having a 2-1 series lead.
The Celtics are not the same juggernaut they were a couple of years ago. Not even close. And with teams like the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and even Charlotte Hornets on their way up, Boston needs to make some changes to re-enter the title picture-- and that may include making a blockbuster trade for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Maybe the Celtics should look into a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
I have advocated against a Giannis-Celtics trade ever since the rumors began, and I'm not budging on my concerns. The Greek Freak is turning 32 years old in December, is getting more injury-prone as each season passes (and given that it's mostly a calf issue, this is a big concern, especially considering that he relies so heavily on his athleticism), can't shoot, and making a deal would inevitably require trading Jaylen Brown and breaking up their proven core.
Plus, if he declines his $62.8 million player option next year, he will be eligible for a four-year, $275 million contract extension, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. Paying a 35-36-year-old Antetokounmpo around $70 million for one season seems like an inevitable disaster.
But let's also look at these facts: trading for Antetokounmpo would 1) force Boston to finally change its offensive system and become a little less three-point heavy, which fans have been clamoring for, 2) drastically raise the team's short-term ceiling, 3) take a lot more pressure off of Jayson Tatum, and perhaps most importantly, 4) stop another team (like the Knicks themselves, or the Miami Heat, for example) from acquiring him.
There are pros and cons to the Celtics acquiring the two-time MVP, but given the Knicks' incredible rise, it might be time for them to seriously weigh all their options and figure out what they need to do from here. Because, as it stands, it's clear that some changes need to be made.
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