The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have emerged as the two frontrunners to win the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes. While there's confirmed mutual interest between Giannis and the Heat, it's actually the Celtics who can offer the Bucks the more enticing package.
That is, if they can find a team to facilitate the trade, turning Jaylen Brown into future assets.
The Heat's best offer is expected to include Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jacquez Jr., and draft picks, including the No. 13 overall selection next week. None of those pieces are needle-movers to jumpstart a rebuild for the Bucks.
They also aren't worth the Blazers returning the Bucks' future picks stolen in the Damian Lillard deal. Milwaukee is hoping Portland will get involved as a facilitator, valuing that draft capital as a headliner in any potential Giannis return.
Celtics could outbid the Heat by sending Jaylen Brown to Portland
While Portland has expressed interest in acquiring Giannis directly, the lack of a long-term commitment should make them reluctant to win the bidding outright. Portland has also expressed interest in Brown, making a three-team deal in which Giannis ends up in Boston seem more realistic by the day.
At this point, the one thing holding up that three-team scenario is whether the Celtics are truly willing to give up Brown, their 2024 Finals MVP and recent All-NBA Second Team selection.
With Jayson Tatum's brutal Achilles tear and Boston making financially driven trades to duck the apron last summer, this was viewed to be a gap year. Largely thanks to Brown, they exceeded expectations in the regular season, securing the second seed with a 56-26 record. Boston could have a relatively quiet offseason and still enter 2026-27 as one of the favorites to represent the East in the Finals.
That said, this is a rare opportunity to add a top-five player in the world in Giannis. Some point to the conflicting style of play between Giannis' downhill attack and Coach of the Year Joe Mazzulla's three-point-heavy offense. But that's precisely why Giannis would be a great fit in Boston.
Their lack of size and physicality was exposed in their first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Giannis would give the Celtics an interior presence to complement their perimeter-oriented offense, making them better equipped for postseason success.
Assuming the Celtics come around to the idea of turning Brown into Antetokounmpo, it should be a no-brainer for the Bucks to prefer that package over what the Heat has to offer, especially with Bam Adebayo off the table. Brown may not fit Milwaukee's desired return directly, but everything Portland can offer them as the facilitator should move the needle much more than Miami.
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