The Heat are still thought to be in the driver's seat of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes, but the Celtics are gaining ground. The Milwaukee Bucks could end up trading their superstar to Boston, and even if they don't, the ripple effects could still change their offseason entirely. You know, Jaylen Brown may not be all that happy about his name being thrown around in trade rumors.
To get Antetokounmpo, the Celtics will have to give up Brown. They know that. He knows that. The thing is, Boston hasn't denied the rumors, at least not publicly. In fact, Bill Simmons said Saturday on his podcast that the team has already made an offer to the Bucks involving the 29-year-old guard.
If it's true that Boston is willing to give up Brown, that's an offer that Milwaukee should accept. And if, for whatever reason, things were to fall through, with the Bucks sending Antetokounmpo to a team like the Heat, the Celtics could have a mess on their hands.
Remember, Boston dangled Brown's name in trade talks with Brooklyn in 2022 for Kevin Durant. Two years later, he helped the Celtics win a championship. Now, another two years have passed, and he's back in the mix for another star.
Celtics risk ruining their relationship with Jaylen Brown
Brown has been in the league since 2016, so he understands that it's a business. He knows what it's like to be wrapped up in rumors, only to stay with the team that tried to trade you. It worked out well for him with Durant, but the result may not be the same after this offseason.
Things are a lot different now than they were then. The Celtics secured the No. 2 seed in the East this past season largely because of Brown, who averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He did so with Jayson Tatum sidelined for the majority of the season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Brown could always wind up requesting a trade if Boston doesn't send him out in a Giannis package, deciding he wants to go somewhere he can be the No. 1 option, which won't happen with Tatum. What could send him over the edge in that direction is his reported inclusion in Antetokounmpo trade talks. We already know there are teams interested in landing him, like the Hawks, Trail Blazers, and Rockets.
When it comes to Giannis, the Bucks should focus on securing the best possible package; if that means rerouting him to another team and reaping the benefits, then great. If not, then the Celtics could still look quite different next season, but not because of a deal with Milwaukee.
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