The on-again, off-again reporting we’ve gotten around a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade has been all over the map. It’s hard to know what’s what, but at least what we think we know is that Jaylen Brown is the best player or asset being offered. Whether the Bucks actually want Brown or not is another story, and one that may necessitate a third team getting involved.
One team we heard floated as a possible landing spot for Brown was the Clippers, but then recently it was reported that they are out on JB and want to keep building around their young core. That seemed a bit odd considering their current core players are Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, who are 34 and 26 years old, respectively.
The Clippers have some solid prospects in Yanic Konan Neiderhauser, Cam Christie, and the 5th overall pick in the draft, but that’s not exactly a grouping that has fans dreaming of a dynasty in Los Angeles.
And on Saturday, Mike Scotto of Hoops Hype reported that the Clippers are, indeed, interested in trading for Brown, and specifically mentioned the 5th pick as a potential trade chip. That piece, alone, is a far better asset than anything the Heat are offering for Giannis, and would immediately allow the Bucks a chance to draft their next franchise player.
Clippers may want big 3 with Brown, Kawhi Leonard, and Darius Garland
The Clippers would suddenly have a dynamic big three with Brown, Kawhi, and Garland, and while that may not be enough to make them top-tier contenders, it would put them in the mix and leave them one more move away from truly getting into the mix. It would be a big risk, but perhaps a worthy one for a team that may not quite be ready to rebuild.
For the Bucks, it’s simple: they’d get the fifth pick in the draft, a tangible, blue-chip asset they could point to as a centerpiece in the trade. They’d surely receive other draft picks from the Clippers and Celtics, as well as young players and salary filler. They’d have two top 10 picks and plenty of ammo to jumpstart their own rebuild.
And for the Celtics, it’s even simpler: they’d get Giannis. Boston would have to part with Brown, perhaps the 27th overall pick, maybe some of their young depth, and maybe even more picks. But they’d be getting one of the top five players in the world to pair with Jayson Tatum. They’d be creating the best tandem in the NBA, and they’d be giving the team a great chance to raise more banners in TD Garden.
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