Celtics Odds Of Landing Giannis Antetokounmpo Just Improved Thanks To Luka Dončić

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo

Celtics Odds Of Landing Giannis Antetokounmpo Just Improved Thanks To Luka Dončić originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the most sought-after player in the NBA this summer if he decides not to sign an extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Boston Celtics are in the mix as a suitor.

Multiple insiders have already called the Celtics a team that could land Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade. The competition to get the two-time MVP will be stiff, but the Celtics may not have to worry about one powerhouse: The Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers were swept by the reigning NBA Champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Monday. The Athletic's Dan Woike and Sam Amick noted that the Lakers are expected to "explore" trades involving Antetokounmpo, but Luka Dončić would prefer to keep Austin Reaves, who would seemingly have to be dealt to get Antetokounmpo in Los Angeles.

"Dončić has made it clear to the Lakers that he would like to continue playing with Reaves, according to league sources," The Athletic wrote on Tuesday. "Beyond their close friendship, Dončić believes in Reaves as a long-term piece next to him. Multiple league sources said that belief was best illustrated when Dončić told people within the organization that he wouldn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade packages for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dončić, those sources say, would strongly prefer a team construction that includes him and Reaves alongside whatever star the Lakers could acquire."

Dončić is the future of the Lakers. He has already signed a max extension with the Lakers, and the team is going to want to keep him happy and give him the type of roster he thinks he can win with. If he wants to keep Reaves, he will likely get his wish. That would pretty much take the Lakers out of the Antetkounmpo sweepstakes. They don't have many draft picks or desirable young players to give up, either.

If the Lakers are out, it's one less team the Celtics need to worry about. The Celtics are seen as one of the favorites to land Antetokounmpo, and the fewer teams there are to outbid, the better.

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