Giannis Antetokounmpo is taking his talents to South Beach. With him joining the Miami Heat, what does that mean for the Boston Celtics' relationship with Jaylen Brown?
The longer Boston kept its hat in the ring, the clearer it became that the organization was willing to break up its franchise cornerstones to land a two-time NBA MVP. The Celtics understood the risks, both with Antetokounmpo's injury history and what this could do to their standing with Brown. They persisted.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the package they put together featured Brown and two first-round draft picks. Despite the Milwaukee Bucks' attempt to pry Hugo Gonzalez from Boston, he was kept out of that offer.
While the former Real Madrid standout is going nowhere, the fallout with Brown now becomes a major talking point around the Association.
Will the Celtics mend fences with Jaylen Brown?
Perhaps the Celtics will smooth over their relationship with the former Finals MVP. After all, as Charania reported, the star wing was not being shopped. For them, he says, this was strictly about the chance to land a top-five talent.
The two sides have also been down this road before. They tried to trade him for Kevin Durant in the summer of 2022, and that didn't lead to a breakup. Nor did the fact that his name has lived on the rumor mill since the moment they drafted him.
The Marietta, Georgia, native is also under contract for three more years. He becomes eligible to ink a two-year extension on Jul 26. That could prove the key to continuing this partnership.
Based on current cap projections, he would earn $66.85 million, [35 percent of the salary cap], in 2029-30. He would make $72.2 million, [36 percent of the salary cap], the following season. That adds $139 million to the $183 left on his deal.
That could be the answer to how the two sides move forward together. However, Brown got a taste of being at the top of a team's hierarchy without sharing that spotlight. His opportunity to shoulder more offensive responsibility validated his vision of how it would go. He started in the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, earned a spot on the All-NBA Second Team for the second time, and inserted his name into the MVP conversation.
He has sacrificed on that front throughout his decade in Boston. It has led to a championship, individual accolades, and two max contracts. At the time he signed his supermax, the deal he is on now, it was the most lucrative extension in NBA history. It is entirely believable that he was, or maybe even still is, prepared to figure out how to continue to make it work alongside Jayson Tatum.
However, it's also possible that putting his name on the table for the second time in four years emboldens him to ask for a split. Especially after he just led the franchise through a season it entered with considerable uncertainty. The ending was sour, squandering a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the playoffs. But a year mostly spent without Tatum still included 56 wins and growth throughout the roster. That happened with Brown as their driving force. Trying to trade him on the heels of that shows a lack of loyalty that threatens their partnership.
But the Celtics knew the risks when pursuing Antetokounmpo. As previously detailed, they may have decided a split was happening this summer, regardless of whose offer the Bucks chose.
Under this punitive collective bargaining agreement, they could believe it's best to enter the 2026-27 campaign with a fortified supporting cast at the expense of the five-time All-Star.
With that in mind, here are four potential trades they could pivot to if Brown's favorite season in Boston is his last one there.
4 Jaylen Brown trade proposals after missing out on Giannis
The option that is seemingly bandied about louder than any other is striking a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. That could look as follows.
Celtics receive:
Trey Murphy III
Herbert Jones
Dejounte Murray
Pelicans receive:
Jaylen Brown
Maybe there's draft capital involved. It could also expand to include other teams, with Jones getting rerouted. That could open the door to center Yves Missi coming to Boston. The Celtics, who have a crowded depth chart at the wing position, are likely better off flipping Jones. However, should they choose to keep him, they have traded player exceptions large enough to absorb his and Murphy's salaries.
As previously detailed, Murphy is entering his prime and has All-Star potential. The best player in the trade would be going to New Orleans, but if Brown's time in Boston is over, this is an enticing path forward. They'd better act quickly, though; the Pelicans may find a new home for their burgeoning wing on Tuesday in exchange for a lottery pick.
Another option is to call up the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Celtics receive:
Evan Mobley
Dennis Schroder/Max Strus/Sam Merrill
Cavaliers receive:
Jaylen Brown
Again, this may require draft capital. And with Cleveland needing to send out added salary to make the math work, hence the inclusion of one of the trio listed below Mobley, another player could be accompanying Brown.
It's a trade that's unlikely to come to fruition from this vantage point. After parting with Darius Garland to acquire James Harden, the Cavaliers' 25-year-old power forward is their last young building block. However, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden give them a narrow window to make a push in the present. So, perhaps they would send Mobley to Boston for a star wing.
If not, what are the Houston Rockets' plans this offseason?
Celtics receive:
Alperen Sengun
Amen Thompson
Rockets receive:
Jaylen Brown
Suddenly becoming built around Brown and Kevin Durant would make Houston an older team in a hurry. Ime Udoka's club suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of a depleted Los Angeles Lakers team. And the Rockets were likely hoping for more of a leap from Thompson this year, especially in Fred VanVleet's absence. Still, Durant's age, in particular, makes this a road they are probably better off not venturing down.
Brown's hometown team could align as a trade partner in a blockbuster deal with the Celtics.
Celtics receive:
Jalen Johnson
Onyeka Okongwu
Hawks receive:
Jaylen Brown
Like Houston, Atlanta expressed interest in acquiring Brown during Boston's pursuit of Antetokounmpo. There was merit to the idea of Jalen Johnson joining Milwaukee in that three-team construct. Perhaps the two sides would agree to swap wings in the aftermath of Giannis going to Miami.
Okongwu's inclusion could be too steep a request. However, the Hawks have the No. 8 pick in Tuesday's draft. They could use that to select a center, such as Michigan's Aday Mara. If not, maybe this would involve a sign-and-trade with Jonathan Kuminga going to Boston instead.
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