The Portland Trail Blazers could be on a quest to add more star power this summer under new owner Tom Dundon, who is, by his own admission, more aggressive than most. One star Portland is believed to have interest in is Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, as recently reported by NBA insider Marc Stein on The Stein Line.
"There is a belief in some corners of the league that Atlanta, Houston and Portland all have legitimate trade interest in Brown. Which is something to file away if you're looking for participants that might be interested in joining an eventual multi-team Antetokounmpo trade construction."
It remains to be seen if Celtics decision-maker Brad Stevens would actually be willing to part ways with Brown, which is understandable considering he's just two years removed from being the Finals MVP. Brown is also fresh off an All-NBA Second team selection, highlighting there are only a few superstars in the league who would truly be considered upgrades worth pursuing for Boston.
One of whom could be Giannis Antetokounmpo.
A Blazers-Jaylen Brown trade could hinge on a Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
Stein lists Miami and Boston as the two landing spots that "currently — underline currently— most intrigue Milwaukee's Antetokounmpo."
Still, it's unclear whether this is a two-way street in terms of mutual interest. If the Celtics do pull off the summer blockbuster for Giannis, things would suddenly become a whole lot easier for the Blazers to come away with Brown.
A multi-team trade in which the foundation is Giannis to Boston, Brown to Portland, and Milwaukee recouping control of its draft future from Portland seems beneficial to all parties involved. If the Celtics aren't already considered the favorite to come out of the East next season, landing a top-five player in the world in Giannis would certainly put them over the top. Portland would finally have the star power required to compete for a deep playoff run in the stacked Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee could embrace a rebuild in a post-Giannis era and get the picks and young assets they are reportedly seeking in any potential blockbuster. Getting those picks back from Portland has to be considered the top priority, as they would be far more valuable than any package a team like the Heat could put together.
In a perfect world, the Blazers wouldn't play the facilitator role and acquire Giannis directly. While they have also expressed interest in him, Giannis prefers to remain in the Eastern Conference.
Portland won't make an all-in move for Giannis unless they have a long-term commitment, which currently seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Brown is under contract through 2028-29, giving Portland more control over retaining their new potential star.
It's fair to wonder whether the Blazers would have a legitimate ceiling as a contender with Brown in the mix. But he does check a lot of Portland's boxes as a two-way star under contract for multiple seasons.
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