The latest major reports from NBA insiders indicate that the Celtics are making a serious push to acquire Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo with a trade offer centered around All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown.
While a report last week indicated that Brown wouldn’t be happy playing in Milwaukee, Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports has heard differently. According to Iko’s sources, there’s a growing sense that the 29-year-old isn’t just open to a trade to the Bucks but is hoping the situation is resolved within the next 48 hours.
Previous reporting indicated that several clubs — including Portland, Atlanta and Houston — would be interested in acquiring Brown in a multi-team deal, but ESPN’s Shams Charania said this morning it’s likely to be a two-team trade, with the Heat the other finalist for Antetokounmpo. However, Charania said it’s possible the trade could be expanded later on.
Brown is coming off a career-best regular season in which he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 steal in 71 games (34.4 minutes per contest). He helped Boston go 56-26 and finish as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Sixers after they blew a 3-1 series lead.
Brown is owed roughly $183MM over the next three seasons and will become eligible this summer for an extension that could be worth up to $142MM for two years.
The Bucks are also said to have interest in Hugo Gonzalez, the Spanish wing whom Boston selected 28th overall in last year’s draft.