As speculation surrounding a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade intensifies ahead of the June 23 NBA Draft, a new layer has emerged in the conversation: the possibility that the Milwaukee Bucks would not keep Jaylen Brown if he were part of the return package.
Speaking about the league-wide anticipation surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future, veteran insider Marc Stein reported on ALL NBA Podcast that the prevailing belief among executives is that Milwaukee would prefer to flip Brown for younger assets and draft capital rather than build its next era around the Celtics star.
“The working presumption when you talk to people around the league is that the Bucks instead of keeping Jaylen Brown for themselves would rather move him for assets to get younger and really start over,” Stein said, via HoopsHype.
That stance reflects Milwaukee’s current position. After finishing 32-50 and missing the postseason in 2025-26, the Bucks face a challenging rebuilding landscape, particularly because several future draft picks were previously sent out in the trade that acquired Damian Lillard. According to Stein, that reality helps explain why the Portland Trail Blazers continue to surface in league discussions as a potential facilitator.
Portland controls draft assets tied to Milwaukee and could help the Bucks recover some of the flexibility they surrendered in previous deals. Rather than centering a rebuild around a 29-year-old All-NBA wing on a maximum contract, Milwaukee may prefer to convert Brown into a larger package of younger players and future picks.
Brown remains one of the league’s most valuable trade assets. The Celtics forward is coming off a season in which he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists across 71 games while earning All-NBA Second Team honors and finishing sixth in MVP voting. He shot 47.7% from the field and remains under contract through the 2029-30 season on a five-year, $285 million deal.
Despite his value, recent reporting has consistently suggested that Milwaukee may not view Brown as the centerpiece of a post-Giannis future. Earlier this month, insider Kevin O’Connor said he did not believe the Bucks wanted Brown directly in a potential Antetokounmpo trade and suggested a third team would likely be necessary.
Boston’s interest in Antetokounmpo appears genuine. The Celtics finished 56-26, captured the Atlantic Division, despite receiving only 16 regular-season games from Jayson Tatum. Reports from multiple insiders have indicated the organization is exploring aggressive pathways to acquire the two-time MVP.
However, another major obstacle remains Antetokounmpo’s contractual future. Stein noted that any team surrendering a massive package for the former MVP would need confidence that he intends to stay long term. Antetokounmpo becomes eligible for a contract extension six months after a trade, making that commitment a critical factor in negotiations.
“There has been so much anticipation about a Giannis move,” Stein said. “The way this thing has been trending is that it is finally going to happen in this window between the Finals and the draft.”
