The Boston Celtics went all in on Giannis Antetokounmpo. They made a serious offer, moved pieces around behind the scenes, and let the league know they were willing to talk. It didn’t work. The Bucks sent their two-time MVP to the Miami Heat instead. And now, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the fallout could turn Jaylen Brown into the most sought-after player on the trade market.
Windhorst laid it out on Tuesday’s Get Up. He said Boston’s failed pursuit of Antetokounmpo essentially signaled to every other team that Brown might be available. Not definitely, but plausibly. And that’s enough for rival front offices to start sharpening their offers.
“Boston is in a situation where they’ve put for the whole world out there, Jaylen Brown, their Finals MVP,” Windhorst said. The Celtics knew losing to Miami was a real possibility. They made a strong offer but held back some pieces because, as Windhorst put it, “on the other side of this trade, they have to have a team.”
Reports had Boston’s offer centered on Brown and two future first-round picks. The Bucks ultimately went with Miami’s package, which ended months of chatter linking Giannis to a handful of contenders. But the Celtics showed their hand, and now the league is paying attention.
Windhorst expects that attention to turn into actual bids. “What I expect to happen is a bidding war for Jaylen Brown from other teams in the league,” he said. He added that teams have been “preparing for this eventuality” in recent days, knowing the Giannis sweepstakes might not land in Boston’s favor. “If there is a draft pick involved, it could happen today.”
The timing lines up. The 2026 NBA Draft is Tuesday night, and draft night trades are a league tradition. If a team wants to sweeten a deal with a pick, this is the moment. Brown is 29, a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, and the guy who won Finals MVP in 2024. He’s still really good. He and Jayson Tatum have had plenty of success together, but that hasn’t stopped Brown’s name from popping up in trade rumors every time a superstar is discussed.
The Celtics just finished a disappointing season that ended with a first-round exit against the Philadelphia 76ers. They viewed Giannis as a potential franchise pivot, but they came up short. Now Boston has to figure out what’s next. Whether they actually shop Brown is unclear. The team hasn’t tipped its hand. But Windhorst’s take suggests the phone is already ringing.
Brown’s future is about to become one of the biggest stories of the offseason. And it might not take long to play out.
Leave a Comment