The Boston Celtics have suddenly emerged as the frontrunners to land Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade that sees their long-term franchise superstar, Jaylen Brown, heading to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Brown seems to be aware of his likely inclusion in a blockbuster trade package that sees the Greek superstar heading to Boston. The Celtics star spoke to Noah Lyles while livestreaming as the two athletes trained together in the summer and made his feelings evidently clear on his potential inclusion in any trade.
“I’ve been a top-five MVP candidate, should’ve been top one, but the media votes for that. All-Star starter, All-NBA, and everything, and they just keep moving the bar up on me. And that’s fine… These people think they’ve seen the best version of me. And they want to see me fail and move the bar. And chat, I’ll tell you right now, no matter what happens, I’m coming.”
“I appreciate my haters. They don’t even realize it, but those who are sitting online, talking s–t… I’m somewhat grateful because I get to see some negativity that I didn’t want, but it just fuels the fire,” Brown said.
“You see some comments or takes that I don’t even care to see, but it just gives more fuel to the fire. So to all the people that doubted me, that want me to do this, or even want me gone or whatever, you’re turning me into a monster.”
While Brian Windhorst has reported that Jaylen Brown may be traded to another team, like the Blazers, if not the Bucks, his potential inclusion in a trade package that lands Giannis Antetokounmpo in Boston seems to be the most likely outcome.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Celtics have emerged as the frontrunners to land Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“The Boston Celtics are the frontrunners to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. The expectation is that a deal will be done by the draft,” Haynes said during his latest appearance on NBA TV’s The Association.
“The owner of the Milwaukee Bucks said this a couple of months ago that they were willing to do so. Over the past couple of weeks, teams were also receiving the intel that the Bucks could forego the draft, and this could go on until free agency. But over the last 48 hours, that has changed. The Milwaukee Bucks are ready to make a move.”
“I can expect something to be done by the end of the day, but if not, most definitely by the draft. Right now, I’m hearing the Boston Celtics, not the Miami Heat, are the favorites to land him in a trade.”
And a major part of the reason is that the Celtics would still be viewed as a championship contender after gutting their roster of a superstar like Jaylen Brown and retaining key pieces to remain in contention.
Whereas the Heat will have to gut a significant portion of their roster, which will force them into a full rebuild, years away from contending for a championship.
“I don’t think it was his top destination. If it was, there are things Giannis can do behind the scenes to make it happen… Also, the package the Heat offered, you’re likely going to gut your team to get Giannis. I don’t know if Giannis wants to go to a team where it’s potentially MIL. Giannis wants to contend for championships,” Haynes further added.
Stephen A. Smith believes a team like the Bucks is exactly what Brown needs for him to go and be himself on the court. Therefore, if the Celtics manage to land a superstar like Antetokounmpo in a swap for Brown, both players will come back with a chip on their shoulder next season.
Antetokounmpo will want to maximize getting traded for the first time in his career and look to make an instant impact on a new team where he suddenly won’t be the only superstar on the floor. Whereas Brown will want to prove himself to the league, as his aforementioned comments have indicated.
Hence, both the Bucks’ fans and the Celtics fans should be on the edge of their seats in excitement about what is potentially coming next for their franchise.
