Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade countdown! He shares a back view photo and speaks out, about to open a new chapter in his career?

On June 23, Beijing time, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo updated his social media, sharing a back view photo of himself wearing the Bucks' No. 34 jersey, accompanied by the words: "God, I trusted you from the beginning, and I will keep trusting you until the end." Numerous reporters quickly shared his post, seemingly indicating he was bidding farewell to his past.

A blockbuster deal involving Giannis is anticipated to take place shortly, as the lengthy negotiation tug-of-war approaches its final stage.

The Bucks' management stated as early as May that they aimed to finalize Giannis's future before the start of the 2026 NBA Draft. ESPN reporter Shams revealed on the program "GetUp" that the trade will likely be completed before that deadline, with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics as the only two remaining final bidders.

The key point is that this trade is most likely a direct swap between two teams, without involving three or more teams:

"The structures of the two offers are vastly different. Boston's offer is centered around Jaylen Brown, a veteran superstar in his prime; Miami's package consists of a group of young players with manageable salaries, rookie-scale contracts, and a large amount of draft assets. But let me be clear: whether the deal is made today or tomorrow, it will be a one-on-one direct trade involving only the Bucks and one of the two candidate teams. Currently, none of the proposals include a third or fourth team. Of course, there could be changes later. Remember last June when the Durant trade initially involved just two teams but evolved into a seven-team deal by the end of the offseason; a similar situation could occur here. The negotiations have been intense throughout, and Giannis's departure saga has lasted nearly 13 months. The Bucks began discussions as early as the trade deadline and opened the door for trade offers after the combine in May, eventually narrowing it down to these two teams. As far as I know, Giannis is ready to be traded and is fine with going to either the Celtics or the Heat. A result is expected within the next 24 hours."

Noted reporter Stein stated that after the weekend, the Celtics have a genuine opportunity to secure Giannis. Although some sources indicate Giannis himself is reluctant to remain with the Bucks, the Bucks' ownership is optimistic about the public relations impact of this star-for-star swap—exchanging Giannis for Celtics cornerstone Jaylen Brown.

In terms of pure player ability, Brown's value is undoubtedly higher than any package the Heat can offer. It is reported that the Heat's proposed package includes guard Tyler Herro, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., and center Kel'el Ware.

However, Brown also has clear weaknesses: he will turn 30 this October, and his total salary over the next three years amounts to $183 million. This five-time All-Star is not a good fit for a team in a rebuilding transition phase, and if the Bucks later attempt to move his large contract, it will be extremely challenging.

The Bucks are leaning toward trading Giannis before tomorrow, sending a signal that the front office believes their negotiation leverage will only continue to diminish in the coming weeks. If any other third or fourth team were interested in joining the bidding process, they would have already proactively submitted offers. All teams looking to recruit Giannis face a major obstacle—Giannis holds a player option for the 2027-28 season, and no changes in the draft or free agency can alter that.