Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Celtics? Jaylen Brown is the key
Between his All-NBA snub and growing trade speculation, Jaylen Brown’s future has become one of the hottest topics in the NBA. Marc Stein also floated a scenario involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and a potential three-team deal
While the debate surrounding Jaylen Brown’s exclusion from the 2025-26 All-NBA First Team continues to heat up, journalist Marc Stein reported in a recent article on his The Stein Line blog that new trade rumors are beginning to circulate around the Celtics star.
Rumors that paint a potentially stunning scenario, one that could place the summer of 2026 among the most explosive and impactful NBA offseasons in league history.
I’ll just say this… In some corners of the league, there’s a belief that Atlanta, Houston, and Portland all have legitimate trade interest in Brown
Marc Stein
And the twist may not stop there. According to Stein, the Milwaukee Bucks front office could open discussions with those franchises as part of constructing a three-team trade, which may now represent the only realistic path to maximizing a return in the event of a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal.
That interest should be kept in mind while searching for teams willing to get involved in building a multi-team trade package for Antetokounmpo
Marc Stein
Boston’s intentions over the coming weeks could quickly put these still-speculative ideas to rest. However, the conversation could easily resurface if the Celtics endure another disappointing postseason before 2029, the year Brown’s current contract expires.
But the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers reminded everyone that in the NBA, nothing should ever be considered untouchable – especially away from the court.
Two destinations that are no coincidence for Jaylen Brown’s future
Now firmly established as one of the faces of the Celtics, Jaylen Brown reportedly finds himself on the radar of two destinations that make plenty of sense.
Atlanta is the city where Brown grew up. There, he would join a young core where his NBA playoff experience could become a major factor in accelerating both growth and competitiveness.
In Houston, meanwhile, Brown would reunite with Ime Udoka, the coach who led Boston during its 2021-22 Finals run. It would give him the chance to revive a basketball partnership that already proved successful with the Celtics, this time within a franchise looking to take another step forward.