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It’s no secret that the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to each other in a potential blockbuster offseason trade.
Both franchises have their separate problems, which could make a deal beneficial for both parties.
The Celtics may need to disband their Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum duo after two consecutive failed postseasons, and the Bucks have a disgruntled forward on their roster in Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom the 2021 NBA champions should trade.
However, if Brown doesn’t land with the Bucks this summer, The Stein Line’s Marc Stein believes that the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers could enter the equation for the NBA Finals MVP.
“But 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 Monday. “Does (Brad) Stevens really want to go that far? I will say this much.”
“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.”
While the Hawks and Trail Blazers are fascinating landing spots, it’s far easier to understand why the Rockets would be fascinated by the idea of adding Brown to their roster. Houston earned the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference after a solid regular season and is likely closer to championship contention than Portland and Atlanta.
Assuming the Rockets make Kevin Durant available in a trade for Brown, Houston would possess a daunting core of Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Jabari Smith, and Brown in 2026-27 and beyond. Those five contributors alone would give the Rockets a clear reason to feel optimistic moving forward.
Needless to say, Brown could be in for an eventful offseason after failing to lead the Celtics past the first round of the playoffs.
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