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As the 2026 NBA Draft draws closer, more intel is beginning to emerge regarding the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
For the better part of a week now, the Boston Celtics have appeared to be the frontrunner for Antetokounmpo, surpassing the Miami Heat.
The buzz has been that if the "Greek Freak" heads northeast, Jaylen Brown will be moved elsewhere, allowing the team that acquires Brown to be the main one compensating the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
The Portland Trail Blazers have regularly been mentioned as one of the possible Brown takers, largely due to their possession of first-round swap rights with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030.
But less than a week out from the draft — which has been the Bucks' presumed deadline to get a deal done — the Blazers' services may no longer be needed, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.
"The Celtics have gone to great lengths to avoid the elephant in the room here, but Jaylen Brown would need to be part of any deal for Antetokounmpo," Amick wrote on Friday.
"And if Boston had its way, it seems, the conversation would start and end there with a one-for-one swap of fellow All-Stars who are still in their respective primes (Antetokounmpo is 31; Brown is 29)," he continued.
That doesn't bode well for Portland's chances of getting involved — or any of the other potential facilitators (Pelicans, Hawks, Clippers).
Coming off an All-NBA Second Team appearance while averaging the fourth-most points per game league-wide (28.7), Brown was being viewed as a similar-level prize to Antetokounmpo.
Players of Brown's caliber — and championship experience — don't come available often.
And considering that the price for Brown was expected to be whatever compensation Milwaukee could get for Antetokounmpo, despite having little leverage over the two-time MVP, Portland may have been staring at a rare opportunity to acquire a franchise-altering talent at a discounted rate.
But that all goes out the window if the Bucks decide they're willing to shift immediately from building around Antetokounmpo to building around Brown.
The potential swap would keep Milwaukee competitive in a crowded Eastern Conference but wouldn't provide the franchise with the foundational assets Portland could.
Sooner than you think, the Bucks won't have any control over two important pieces of their future draft capital. Unless Milwaukee finds its way back to contention within the next two years, Portland could land in the lottery with an already-impressive young core.
Or, the Bucks could just reroute Brown to Rip City and not have to worry about losing valuable draft picks. The decision really is that simple.
Continue reading...
For the better part of a week now, the Boston Celtics have appeared to be the frontrunner for Antetokounmpo, surpassing the Miami Heat.
The buzz has been that if the "Greek Freak" heads northeast, Jaylen Brown will be moved elsewhere, allowing the team that acquires Brown to be the main one compensating the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
The Portland Trail Blazers have regularly been mentioned as one of the possible Brown takers, largely due to their possession of first-round swap rights with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030.
But less than a week out from the draft — which has been the Bucks' presumed deadline to get a deal done — the Blazers' services may no longer be needed, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.
"The Celtics have gone to great lengths to avoid the elephant in the room here, but Jaylen Brown would need to be part of any deal for Antetokounmpo," Amick wrote on Friday.
"And if Boston had its way, it seems, the conversation would start and end there with a one-for-one swap of fellow All-Stars who are still in their respective primes (Antetokounmpo is 31; Brown is 29)," he continued.
That doesn't bode well for Portland's chances of getting involved — or any of the other potential facilitators (Pelicans, Hawks, Clippers).
Coming off an All-NBA Second Team appearance while averaging the fourth-most points per game league-wide (28.7), Brown was being viewed as a similar-level prize to Antetokounmpo.
Players of Brown's caliber — and championship experience — don't come available often.
And considering that the price for Brown was expected to be whatever compensation Milwaukee could get for Antetokounmpo, despite having little leverage over the two-time MVP, Portland may have been staring at a rare opportunity to acquire a franchise-altering talent at a discounted rate.
But that all goes out the window if the Bucks decide they're willing to shift immediately from building around Antetokounmpo to building around Brown.
The potential swap would keep Milwaukee competitive in a crowded Eastern Conference but wouldn't provide the franchise with the foundational assets Portland could.
Sooner than you think, the Bucks won't have any control over two important pieces of their future draft capital. Unless Milwaukee finds its way back to contention within the next two years, Portland could land in the lottery with an already-impressive young core.
Or, the Bucks could just reroute Brown to Rip City and not have to worry about losing valuable draft picks. The decision really is that simple.
Continue reading...
