If the Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Celtics, the motivation wouldn't (or shouldn't) be to get Jaylen Brown in return. It seems like he feels the same (shocker), as Marc Spears said on ESPN on Wednesday, the 29-year-old "wouldn't want" to play for the Bucks.
Milwaukee should push for a trade involving Brown and Boston to happen, but so that he could be rerouted to a third team, which would send more assets in the Bucks' direction.
It's still unknown if the Celtics are truly interested in parting with Brown for Antetokounmpo, but that's the only way they'd be able to take on Giannis. If Brad Stevens believes that acquiring the 31-year-old superstar would put Boston in a better position to win a championship, it could happen.
That doesn't mean that Brown couldn't go to another team where he could have a chance to win another title. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be Milwaukee, but it could be a team like Portland, Atlanta, or Houston, all of which reportedly have interest in him, per The Stein Line. Other suitors could emerge if they knew the guard was available.
Jaylen Brown and Bucks shouldn't want each other
Brown, who is 29, is coming off the best individual season of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He earned his first All-Star starter nod and made the 2025-26 All-NBA Second Team.
The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum for the majority of the season, but with Brown leading the way, they still secured the No. 2 seed in the East. Boston flamed out in the first round of the playoffs, letting Philadelphia come back from a 3-1 deficit. Still, what they did in a "down year" was impressive.
Milwaukee can understand why Brown wouldn't want to take a step back and play for a rebuilding franchise, especially after what he accomplished this past season. It wouldn't make sense for the Bucks, either. He'd give them a big-name draw after losing Antetokounmpo, which would be exciting, but outside of that, it wouldn't be worth it.
They need to look ahead to their future, and apparently, they are, which is why Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Bucks are acting as if they will have three first-round picks in this year's draft.
Regardless of where Antetokounmpo ends up, Milwaukee should walk away with a few more draft assets, and a trade with Boston would certainly help that happen.
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