Boston Celtics

The Celtics reportedly offered up Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks as part of their offer to the Bucks.

By Conor Ryan

June 23, 2026 | 12:21 AM

3 minutes to read

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Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the move. But not to Boston. 

Despite being linked in trade rumors with the Bucks superstar for weeks, the Celtics came up just short in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo, with Milwaukee reportedly trading the two-time MVP to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster deal.

According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Bucks traded Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), one pick swap and 1 second-round selection. 

Charania added that the Celtics made a compelling offer to Milwaukee in order to try and pair him up with Jayson Tatum — but Milwaukee ultimately opted for Miami’s haul of players and picks.

“The Celtics aggressively pursued Giannis, offering Milwaukee a package featuring 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN,” Charania tweeted late Monday night. “The Bucks seriously negotiated with two finalists in recent weeks: Miami and Boston, which were both on Antetokounmpo’s list of preferred destinations.”

After Boston made a shocking first-round exit at the hands of the Sixers in April, Celtics president of basketball of operations Brad Stevens stressed that the team wanted to add more “impact at the rim” moving forward. 

A superstar talent like Antetokounmpo would have fit that bill for Boston as the Celtics tried to overcome other contenders across the NBA landscape like the Knicks, Spurs, and Thunder in 2026-27. 

Yes, there are concerns over the 31-year-old forward’s age and recent injury woes. But ​Antetokounmpo’s resume speaks for itself.

Over his 13 seasons in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a championship in 2021, won two MVP awards, secured NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020, and also earned 10 All-Star nods. ​

Antetokounmpo became just the third NBA player in league history — after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James — to win two MVPs before turning 26 years old, and was also the third player in league history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same year — joining Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan.

Even with some valid reservations over how much Antetokounmpo has left in the tank as a true, top-five talent in the NBA, his athleticism and ability to impact the game down both ends of the court could have been a much-needed remedy for Stevens and the Celtics.

He may not be an established 3-point shooter, but Antetokounmpo is a devastating finisher in the paint. Despite only appearing in 36 games this past season, he finished sixth in the league in total dunks with 142. He led the league in that category over the previous two years from 2023-25.

Add in his defensive capabilities as a 6-foot-11 forward with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and Antetokounmpo checks off plenty of boxes as far as what Stevens coveted this season. 

Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game during the 2025-26 season with the Bucks.

Now, Stevens and the Celtics are in a fascinating spot this offseason — especially when it comes to how best to move forward with both Brown and a Celtics team still in need of several upgrades. 

Speaking on his Twitch stream on Sunday, Brown said he was well aware of all the discourse surrounding himself and the Bucks. 

​”Somewhat grateful, because I get to see some negativity that I didn’t want. But that just gives more fuel to the fire,” Brown said on his Twitch stream while training with Olympic sprinter Noah Lyles. “I see some comments, or takes, that I didn’t even care to see, but it just gives me more fuel to the fire.

“To all the people who have doubted me, that want me to do this or want me gone, you’re turning me into a monster.”

But, following Charania’s report that Brown was indeed in the offer to the Bucks for Giannis, it remains to be seen what the next steps are for both Boston and one of their star players.