Bill Simmons doesn’t see it happening. Not the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade itself — that feels increasingly possible — but the idea that Boston would toss a specific first-year player into the deal.
The Ringer founder and longtime Celtics fan took to X to make his stance crystal clear. And it wasn’t about Jaylen Brown or Jrue Holiday or any of the obvious names floating around trade rumors. It was about Hugo Gonzalez, the 28th pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
“I would be absolutely shocked if Hugo was/is thrown into any Giannis trade offer. The entire organization is all-in on him – Stevens prob the most. They could not be higher on him. I genuinely don’t believe he’s involved. Guess we’ll see,” Simmons posted.
Why the Celtics value Gonzalez this much
Gonzalez didn’t light up the stat sheet as a rookie. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game across 74 regular-season appearances. He shot 36.2% from three and 47.6% from the floor. In four playoff games against the Sixers, he barely saw the floor — 4.8 minutes a night.
But the flashes were real. Gonzalez scored in double figures seven times. His best outing came against Milwaukee on March 2, when he dropped 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 108-81 Celtics win. He hit three threes, swatted two shots, and picked three steals. For a rookie role player, that’s the kind of game that makes front offices dream.
So yeah. The full box score matters here more than the season averages.
The Giannis sweepstakes heat up
The Antetokounmpo trade chatter has dominated NBA conversation for months. Multiple teams have checked in, but two have emerged as realistic landing spots: the Celtics and the Heat.
Miami can offer young talent and draft picks. That’s the kind of package that helps a rebuilding Bucks front office reset. Boston’s offer reportedly centers on Jaylen Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP. That would keep Milwaukee competitive immediately, swapping one star for another in roughly the same prime window.
But any realistic deal for a two-time MVP would almost certainly require additional assets. Gonzalez’s name has come up in speculation. Simmons just doesn’t buy it.
If the Bucks ever make Antetokounmpo truly available, Boston will have to decide whether the upside of keeping Gonzalez outweighs the cost of landing a top-five player. Simmons seems to think Stevens and the front office already made that call internally. The rookie stays. The star chase would have to work around him.
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