Boston Celtics

"Boston would almost certainly have to part with Jaylen Brown in a three-team (or more) trade scenario to win The Giannis Sweepstakes."

There continues to be plenty of smoke between the Celtics and Bucks when it comes to a potential blockbuster trade for former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. ​

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Celtics stand as one of two teams in the Eastern Conference that hold some appeal for Antetokounmpo, who could be looking at a change in scenery after 13 seasons in Milwaukee.

​“I’ve heard something similar from a few different teams since the Chicago draft combine: Miami and Boston are increasingly perceived to be the potential trade destinations that currently — underline currently — most intrigue Milwaukee’s Antetokounmpo,” Stein wrote on his Substack. 

​“Lead decision-maker Brad Stevens, as we noted in this cyberspace last Sunday, has publicly lamented the fact that Boston’s roster doesn’t boast anyone putting pressure on the rim like Giannis could,” Stein added. “But Boston would almost certainly have to part with Jaylen Brown in a three-team (or more) trade scenario to win The Giannis Sweepstakes. Does Stevens really want to go that far?”

As Stein noted, the cost to pry Antetokounmpo from the Bucks would likely involve moving out an established star like Brown.

While Brown is coming off arguably the best season of his career, a Bucks team staring at a long-term rebuild likely wouldn’t want to retain the 29-year-old wing for the long haul. As such, a three-team swap makes sense, especially if Milwaukee secures draft picks or younger players in return.

Stein noted in his latest post that there is “belief in some corners of the league” that the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers all have expressed interest in Brown.

All three of those teams are either ascending or are in more desperate need of a potential No. 1 option — and have younger players, picks, and other assets that they can flip to Milwaukee as part of a three-team trade.

Earlier this month, NBA insider Chris Mannix noted that the Hawks reached out to Boston last summer to inquire about a trade involving Brown, who hails from the Atlanta area.

“I wrote this week about the Atlanta Hawks. Jaylen is a Georgia native. Last offseason, the Celtics and Hawks did have a brief conversation about Jaylen Brown,” Mannix noted. “It didn’t really go anywhere.

“The Hawks were leery about the size of Brown’s contract, which at the time was, I believe, the richest contract in NBA history. And they weren’t really in a position to go all in. The Celtics were not looking to give Jaylen Brown away, either. So, it didn’t go anywhere.”