The Celtics have the inside track on a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo according to the naysayers
The most important domino to fall this NBA season finally looks set to fall.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded before Tuesday’s NBA Draft, with the Celtics and Heat now leading the way for the two-time MVP.
The superstar power forward has 120 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook to join Jayson Tatum in Boston and +140 odds to go to South Beach and join Bam Adebayo in Miami.
The odds on Kalshi with Antetokounmpo at 60.2% (-151 odds) should be traded to the Celtics, compared to 32.9 percent for the Heat.
Jaylen Brown could reportedly be a key piece in the Celtics’ trade package, while Pat Riley and the Heat appear comfortable parting ways with Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jacquez, and the No. 13 pick in Tuesday’s draft, per ESPN.
Both teams also preferred destinations for the 10-time All-Star, who spent the entire season in Milwaukee and helped the franchise win a title in 2021.
Giannis Antetokounmpo who is against the next team
| The team | Opportunities |
|---|---|
| The Celtics | -120 |
| The heat | +140 |
| Buckets | +700 |
| The Knicks | 20/1 |
| Timberwolves | 20/1 |
| The Cavaliers | 25/1 |
| Nets | 25/1 |
| The Spurs | 25/1 |
Antetokounmpo’s time with the Bucks was on shaky ground, making it difficult to change hearts; Oddsmakers peg Milwaukee at +700 odds to keep him.
The Damian Lillard experiment ended on a sour note after Lillard injured his Achilles in the 2025 playoffs, and was ruled out of that season.
The controversial firing of head coach Adrian Griffin, despite his impressive 30-13 start to the 2023 season, was also in doubt, as Milwaukee decided to part ways with him and hire Doc Rivers in his place.
With Rivers at the helm, the team endured two first-round exits and failed to qualify for the postseason in 2026. Rivers then resigned, and in late April, the Bucks named former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins as their next head coach.
The Buckeyes are looking at a rebuilding season behind young guards Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. after finishing 11th in the conference. Milwaukee also has the tenth pick in this year’s Draft.
The reigning champion Knicks and Western Conference fringe-contender Timberwolves each hold long odds of 20/1 to land the 2021 NBA Finals MVP.
Betting on the NBA?
At 31 years old, Antetokounmpo is clearly in winning mode, and pairing with Tatum could reinforce that feeling. The Celtics are +180 to win the East at the time of this writing and have the third chance to win the 2027 NBA Finals at +475.
Brad Stevens is in the driver’s seat to secure Antetokounmpo’s three-year, $174.5 million contract by putting together a package of assets that will be accepted by Bucks GM Jon Horst.
It will come at a price, as Brown and Tatum have appeared in five Eastern Conference finals together, climbing to the top of the mountain in 2024 with a championship.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Mike Turay is a sports reporter and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and the UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA betting and NFL player prop for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook landscape, regularly testing and updating the latest apps and sites.
