This NBA offseason is shaping up to be the summer of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and on Wednesday, a fascinating new trade scenario involving the Milwaukee Bucks superstar emerged.
During a segment on Get Up on ESPN, insider Brian Windhorst said the idea of a blockbuster trade sending Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jaylen Brown would make plenty of sense for both sides.
“Of course it makes sense for Milwaukee. Of course Milwaukee would see some of the stuff that Jaylen Brown is saying and watch everything, and they would get ready to call Boston. From Boston’s standpoint, this is very simple: in July, Jaylen Brown has the opportunity to sign a contract extension with the Celtics. If he is happy with the Celtics, sign, see you in September. If he’s not happy with the Celtics and he’s like, ‘Listen, I’m not sure I want to be here,’ trade. This is all going to take care of itself,”
The 29-year-old Brown has three years remaining on the five-year, $285.4 million extension he signed with the Celtics in 2023. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo, 31, has two years left on the three-year, $175.4 million extension he signed with the Bucks in 2023, which includes a player option following the 2026–27 campaign.
Trade rumors followed Antetokounmpo throughout the year, and it feels inevitable that the longtime Buck will be moved out of Milwaukee this offseason. The only real question is where.
Brown, on the other hand, emerged as an MVP candidate in Boston this season while carrying a heavier load without Jayson Tatum. However, some of his comments following the Celtics’ first-round elimination have raised eyebrows about his desire to remain with the team long term. There have also long been questions surrounding the Brown-Tatum pairing, though they silenced much of that criticism by winning a championship in 2023–24.
Whether Brown truly wants to stay in Boston will ultimately determine whether a deal like this is even possible. That said, if he were to seek a change, there’s no doubt he would be the type of centerpiece Milwaukee would want in return for Antetokounmpo.
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