The Milwaukee Bucks want their picks back from the Portland Trail Blazers. Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to joining the Boston Celtics. The Blazers have expressed interest in Jaylen Brown.
This all has the makings of a three-team summer blockbuster that benefits each team's situation. So, why are the Miami Heat still considered the (current) favorites to land Antetokounmpo?
Celtics rumors around Giannis Antetokounmpo are heating up
The Heat may view the Celtics as a serious threat in the sweepstakes, but it remains to be seen whether Boston will actually enter the conversation. Here's what NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Thursday on The Stein Line:
"Those same sources likewise insist that the Celtics have yet to engage in any meaningful trade conversation this spring involving Jaylen Brown after Brown's tremendous 2025-26 campaign … but it also hasn't been categorically dismissed as a possibility. This much is clear: Boston is believed to be a potential suitor that genuinely concerns Miami."
Friday, Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported that the Celtics "pose a serious threat to the Heat's pursuit" if Antetokounmpo were willing to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Celtics.
They also added that Brown is the most likely headliner to be included in that scenario, though rival teams would expect him to be flipped for "younger players and draft picks." That's where Portland comes in.
Blazers' path to Jaylen Brown gets clearer by the day
Marc Stein also reported Friday that Portland is one of the teams with registered interest in Brown, along with the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks.
The NBA insider adds that Brown's lucrative contract with three years and $183 million remaining does complicate things financially. Hopefully, that's where Jerami Grant's overpaid salary could come into play as a salary filler.
Portland would likely have to include even more future assets to incentivize Milwaukee to take him back in that scenario. Wouldn't that be the best-case scenario for the Bucks, anyway?
In any Giannis blockbuster, it's been frequently reported that they are seeking to recoup control of their draft picks lost in the Damian Lillard deal. The NBA's drastic anti-tanking changes to the lottery system do somewhat diminish the value of those picks, unfortunately for Portland. But they still make embracing a full-on rebuild and roster teardown a whole lot easier for Milwaukee.
Is Jaylen Brown worth those Bucks picks for the Blazers?
Ultimately, that's the one question Portland must ask itself in this entire Giannis trade saga. If they can't acquire Giannis directly, because he doesn't commit to staying in Portland long-term, what level star is worth sacrificing those draft picks for?
With the Celtics being increasingly mentioned as a landing spot for Giannis and the Blazers already having confirmed interest in Brown, that's the one star who should be at the top of their list when posing that question.
We lean towards Brown being worth it for Portland to give Milwaukee back its picks.
Not only did the lottery changes make it easier to part ways with them, but the Blazers also have a rare chance to add an All-NBA Second Team player still in his prime. Of the stars expected to potentially be available this summer, Brown is just about as good a two-way fit as any for Portland's roster.
Unlike Giannis or Kawhi Leonard, Portland could guarantee having control over a star for multiple seasons -- a factor that can't be overlooked given their small market and inability to attract/retain stars.
The argument against sacrificing those picks for Brown is that Portland likely still wouldn't be on the same tier of contenders as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Is it worth sacrificing part of their promising future for a slim chance at getting Damian Lillard his first ring?
The Bucks are hoping to decide on Giannis before the NBA Draft, which starts on June 23. If Boston changes its stance and suddenly makes Brown available in trade talks, it should have the most compelling offer for Milwaukee.
That is, if they can convince Portland to get involved as the facilitator.
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