Those Celtics rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo won't die down anytime soon. Last we checked, Bill Simmons made it sound like Giannis is more into the Celtics than the other way around, and now we've gotten an update from Marc Stein's latest intel basically saying the same. More than that, though, if the Celtics are, he revealed it would likely turn into a three-way deal.
"Boston would almost certainly have to part with Jaylen Brown in a three-team (or more) trade scenario to win The Giannis Sweepstakes," Stein wrote. "Does Stevens really want to go that far?"
If they do, Stein revealed the following three teams that would have the most interest in Jaylen Brown if it came to that.
"There is a belief in some corners of the league that Atlanta, Houston and Portland all have legitimate trade interest in Brown," Stein wrote.
The Celtics have a pretty strong edge in the Giannis sweepstakes compared to most teams, but the question is whether they believe it's worth trading Brown for him. It's also worth mentioning that the Bucks wouldn'w ant Brown, hence why this would turn into a three-way at minimum.
All three of the aforementioned teams have assets that would intrigue the Bucks. The Hawks and Trail Blazers have Milwaukee's draft assets that they acquired directly (Portland) or indirectly while the Rockets have a fair amount of draft assets. The question would be whether Milwaukee would want the chance to truly start from scratch or possess another team's future in their inevitable rebuild.
With all that out there, here's how we would rank the three teams in terms of best fit for Brown.
3. Houston
It is exciting to think that the Rockets could pair Brown with Kevin Durant (plus there'd be some cruel irony that Boston discussed swapping the two four years ago). Not to mention Brown's experience playing under Ime Udoka. Getting Brown would raise the Rocket's ceiling higher than it already was.
Sadly though, the Rockets' undoing this past season was their shaky depth. Now in their defense, that was caused by badly timed injuries to both Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams. However, trading for Brown makes that problem worse, and if there's one NBA player who knows the consequences of being top-heavy, it's Durant.
Brown would thrive as Durant's No. 2, but the Rockets would lose so much around the margins that there's a strong argument that it really isn't worth it.
2. Portland
Unlike the Rockets, the Trail Blazers have the big contracts (Jerami Grant) and the young talent (Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara) to match for Brown. What really works for Portland is the fact that their projected best players next season, like Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija, are being paid for much less than what they are (or should be) worth.
Brown could come in to fit with their identities as a team filled with two-way players. Factor in his experience with Jrue Holiday, and Brown would already have some continuity going into Portland. It would definitely elevate the Trail Blazers' ceiling, but would it make them an undisputed title contender or just a team that would give title contenders a lot of trouble in a playoff series?
(There's a difference guys)
Brown would get to be the best player on a pretty loaded team for the duration of his prime, and Portland wouldn't have to compromise all that much
1. Atlanta
If Boston really wants to do right by Brown in the event that they trade him, they would trade him to his hometown. The Hawks have been good enough that they have given the New York Knicks more trouble in the East than anyone else by a pretty good margin.
And they would get Brown? All it would take is some assets they already have from the Bucks, plus the No. 8 pick in a talented draft class, along with expendable deals. This wouldn't be just a team that would give East contenders like the Knicks and Celtics trouble. They would be on their level. Again, Brown would be the best player on an excellent team playing where he grew up.
Such a prospect sounds so exciting that the real question is whether the Celtics are really willing to make one of their playoff competitors better to get Antetokounmpo.
All of this kind of explains why Boston isn't necessarily pulling the trigger on a Giannis deal the first chance they get.
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