There’s a rumor floating around from Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe that the Boston Celtics are trying to get Giannis Antetokounmpo without giving up Jaylen Brown. If that’s the case, then the Milwaukee Bucks’ job just got a lot easier: Trade with the Miami Heat. There’s no way they should trade Antetokounmpo without getting Brown back in return.
A potential Celtics package without Brown wouldn’t be awful. They could still offer up the likes of Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Hugo Gonzalez, and draft capital. But once Brown is out of the picture, it becomes clear that Miami’s offer is much better.
So, if the Celtics are actually keeping Brown out of talks, the Bucks’ decision just got a whole lot easier.
No Jaylen Brown, no Giannis trade
Trading Antetokounmpo is a huge deal. In order for the Bucks to solidify a great future for themselves, they need to make sure that they get the best possible return package for Antetokounmpo.
Plenty of teams around the NBA are undoubtedly interested in trading for Antetokounmpo, but now, it seems as though the race is down to just two: Boston and Miami.
The Heat can offer the Bucks a package that includes the likes of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and future draft capital. Milwaukee could then flip Herro to a third team, should they so choose.
Meanwhile, the Celtics could offer Brown and picks, and the Bucks could then find a third team to take on Brown, collecting a ton of assets from that team.
Two solid packages, with reasons for each to be considered by the Bucks. The benefit of a trade for Brown is that a third team like the Atlanta Hawks or the Portland Trail Blazers could give the Bucks some of their own picks back.
But that’s why the latest rumor is so important. Because if the Celtics are truly withholding Brown from trade conversations, then the conversations should be over with.
In no universe should the Bucks consider trading Antetokounmpo to the Celtics without getting Brown back in return. At that point, they should just take the Heat’s offer.
Boston’s offer just wouldn’t be good enough without Brown. They could still trade White or Pritchard to a third team, but not for nearly as much value.
They should just take Herro and the rest of the Heat’s package. If Brown’s not included in the Celtics’ trade package, then no deal.
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