The Boston Celtics find themselves watching the NBA playoffs from home after being upset by the Philadelphia 76ers, but a massive offseason blockbuster could make them a true contender once again.
The idea of breaking up the star pairing of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum might not be popular among Celtics fans, but perhaps it's time. Especially if it means they can trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
A potential trade could center around Brown and two first-round picks being sent out in exchange for Giannis. While Brown was an MVP candidate this season and a former NBA Finals MVP, Giannis, when healthy, is a top-three player in the NBA.
How realistic is a Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade?
There's a huge difference between being a top-15 player and a top-3 player. Therefore, the Celtics should jump at the chance to land Giannis if the opportunity arises.
The Celtics have gone to three Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals and won a championship in 2024 with Brown. Nevertheless, they may have done all that they can do with the Brown and Tatum pairing.
As far as how realistic it is, if the Celtics are willing to trade Brown, the Bucks will likely be interested in him. After all, Brown is under contract for three more seasons and is just 29 years old.
He'd give Milwaukee a chance to retool instead of rebuild. If the Celtics are able to throw in a couple of first-round picks, there's no way that another team can best that offer.
Should the Celtics trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
It would be a no-brainer for the Celtics if they had a reasonable shot at landing him. There would be some concerns that it would pan out the same way that the ill-fated Kyrie Irving situation did. Still, Giannis is a better player at his peak than Irving ever was.
If both he and Tatum are back and fully healthy, then it's hard to imagine the Celtics not being the best team in the East next season. Whether they'd be the best team in the NBA would be a question mark. But they could certainly be better than they are now.
All told, the Celtics should be very interested in getting in on the Giannis sweepstakes this summer. If they are willing to part with Brown, they could have a huge leg up on the competition and potentially upgrade by acquiring a top 3 player to pair with Tatum.
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