Report: Rumbles Boston Celtics stealth Giannis Antetokounmpo landing spot

TL;DR

The Boston Celtics are rumored to be a potential landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Marc Stein. The team has created financial flexibility, making them capable of making significant moves this offseason.

Key points

Boston Celtics linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors
Marc Stein reports Celtics have financial flexibility
Potential for significant moves this offseason

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The Boston Celtics are no stranger to being used as potential leverage in trade talks being held by other ball clubs. Typically, it involves one of the Celtics' best players being floated as an alternative direction the selling team could go in unloading a star player with some questions about their value or health while selling routine conversations between front offices as having more to them than they likely did. And just days into their unexpectedly early offseason after losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the first round, Boston is back in the rumor mill. We are talking about the reporting from the Stein Line's Marc Stein, who has linked the team to a familiar face. But this time, the rumor might have more substance than those alluded to in the past. "Because they’ve created this (financial) flexibility for themselves when it looked like it was going to be really hard to do so — I feel like they’re gonna be able to make moves," opined Stein in a recent Sirius XM radio appearance (h/t Boston Dot Com's Conor Ryan). "There will inevitably be people who bring back the, ‘Do they break up (Jayson) Tatum and (Jaylen) Brown’ — that storyline will probably come back."

Apr 24, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass around Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first quarter of game five of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports "There have been some rumblings at various points during the season that the Celtics could be a stealth (Antetokounmpo) team and a team that potentially interests Giannis," adds Stein. "So let’s keep our eye on the Celtics. We know Brad Stevens is not afraid to make big moves and take big swings. So I think we have to be ready for just about anything with Boston." It seems very unlikely that Boston would move on either of the Jays barring behind-the-scenes dissatisfaction at a level that would be hard to fathom given public-facing attitudes. But nothing should shock in today's NBA when it comes to such moves being made after the deal to the . And the only other player close enough to Antetokounmpo's salary range, , would be an unlikely option for Boston given how shallow the team would need to be for keeping the trio of supermax players together with a competent roster behind them. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

What are the rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Boston Celtics?

Rumors suggest that the Boston Celtics could be a stealth landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo, with reports indicating the team has financial flexibility to make significant moves.

Who reported the potential Celtics interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo?

The potential interest of the Boston Celtics in Giannis Antetokounmpo was reported by Marc Stein during a recent Sirius XM radio appearance.

What financial flexibility do the Boston Celtics have for trades?

The Boston Celtics have created financial flexibility that allows them to explore significant trades, including the possibility of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.