Celtics weigh Jaylen Brown for Giannis trade shot

Celtics need – NBA insider Marc Stein says Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential trade “destinations” with the most intrigue are Miami and Boston, with Boston’s path likely requiring moving Jaylen Brown in a three-team (or more) deal.

For a few teams, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks never really quiet down—they just change shape. And on Monday, one new detail sharpened what that could cost the Boston Celtics.

NBA insider Marc Stein wrote that Miami and Boston are increasingly perceived as the two places that currently intrigue Milwaukee’s Antetokounmpo the most after his 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Stein’s phrasing was direct: Miami and Boston stand out among the possible trade destinations that hold the most pull right now.

Stein also pointed to Boston’s internal tension. He said lead decision-maker Brad Stevens has publicly lamented that the Celtics’ roster does not feature anyone who can consistently put pressure on the rim the way Giannis could. For Boston. that gap is the reason the rumors keep circling back—yet it’s also the reason any move would likely come with a painful price.

Stein’s latest note made the math hard to ignore. He wrote that the Celtics would almost certainly have to part with Jaylen Brown in a three-team (or more) trade scenario to win “The Giannis Sweepstakes.”

The reason isn’t subtle. Stein said the cost to pry Antetokounmpo from the Bucks would likely involve moving out an established star like Brown. And he laid out a second pressure point: while Brown is coming off what Stein characterized as arguably the best season of his career. a Bucks team facing a long-term rebuild likely wouldn’t want to retain the 29-year-old wing for the long haul.

In a scenario like that, Stein said a three-team swap makes sense—particularly if Milwaukee can secure draft picks or younger players in return. That structure matters because it changes the balance of who gets what, and how much of Boston’s talent would have to move.

Stein’s post added another layer to the Celtics’ calculus. He wrote that there is “belief in some corners of the league” that the Atlanta Hawks. Houston Rockets. and Portland Trail Blazers have all expressed interest in Brown. He tied that to their current positioning: all three are either ascending or are in more desperate need of a potential No. 1 option. and they have younger players. picks. and other assets that could be flipped to Milwaukee as part of a three-team trade.

The idea of Brown as a moving piece isn’t new, but the recent rumor trail suggests it could be getting closer to reality. 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.

Mannix said he previously wrote about the Atlanta Hawks and that Brown is a Georgia native. He also recalled that “Last offseason. the Celtics and Hawks did have a brief conversation about Jaylen Brown.” Mannix’s account made it clear that it didn’t go anywhere at the time. He said the Hawks were leery about the size of Brown’s contract—described as. at the time. the richest contract in NBA history—and they weren’t really positioned to go all in. Mannix also said Boston wasn’t looking to give Jaylen Brown away either.

Taken together, the pieces point to a single central pressure facing the Celtics: if the goal is to land Antetokounmpo, the organization may have to gamble on dismantling something it has built around Brown—even if that only happens through a more complex multi-team route.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Celtics Jaylen Brown Miami Heat Milwaukee Bucks Brad Stevens NBA trade rumors Atlanta Hawks Houston Rockets Portland Trail Blazers