When a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo approaches the end of a championship window with his team, the standard move is to trade him, stockpile assets, and start over.
But Christopher Reina proposes a radical alternative: what if Giannis could compete for a title elsewhere temporarily, then return once the Bucks are ready to contend again?
Reina imagines a one-season “loan” of Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from Achilles surgery, along with draft picks. Tatum would serve as collateral, while Giannis helps Boston stay in the title race.
Remarkably, their 2025–26 salaries differ by just $70, making the deal financially possible under the league’s restrictive second-apron rules.
Drawing on the Warriors’ unintentional rebuild in 2019–20 and LeBron James’ departure and return to Cleveland, Reina suggests this concept could reshape how NBA teams balance short-term contention and long-term planning.
While such a deal remains unlikely, Reina argues it’s a forward-thinking model worth considering in today’s accelerated team timelines.
The Superstar Loan: A Giannis For Tatum One-Year Trade (@CR_Reina with an idea crazy enough for the Celtics, Bucks and Giannis to all benefit) https://t.co/g6HjKJiSf0
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 19, 2025
