The Boston Celtics were reportedly willing to send Jaylen Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade that would have landed them superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Their efforts came up short, though, as Antetokounmpo and teammate Bobby Portis were instead shipped to the Miami Heat on Monday.
Boston was one of two teams, along with Miami, that seriously pursued the two-time MVP. With the Celtics being passed over, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania shed light on how the failed trade negotiations could impact Brown’s relationship with the team moving forward.
NBA Insider Breaks Down Jaylen Brown’s Murky Future with Celtics
While discussing Boston’s Brown-centered trade offer to the Bucks, Charania anticipated “fallout” from the deal that didn’t happen.
“Now, if you’re Boston, there is going to be fallout from this, some hard conversations because for the second time in four years, the Celtics have offered Jaylen Brown, their co-star with Jayson Tatum, in a trade,” Charania said in a late-night appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Monday.
“Back in 2022, the Celtics offered Jaylen Brown in a package for Kevin Durant. Now, for Giannis Antetokounmpo. And so, the tables are a little different now because Jaylen Brown is a Finals MVP. He just came off a year where he was an MVP finalist as well. So, there are going to be some conversations now moving forward.
“Jaylen Brown is extension eligible in July. So, we’ll see where things go from here,” Charania continued.
Reporting live on @SportsCenter — on Giannis Antetokounmpo landing in Miami, the Bucks deciding between the Heat and Celtics, and the Boston-Jaylen Brown dynamics after he was offered in talks: pic.twitter.com/LXQwKb38oI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026
In the 2025-26 season, Brown played in 71 games for the Celtics, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Brown shot 47.7% from the floor, 34.7% from beyond the 3-point arc, and 79.5% from the free-throw line.
MORE: NBA Insider Reveals Why Celtics’ ‘Aggressive Pursuit’ of Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Came Up Short
Besides winning the 2024 NBA Finals with Boston, Brown is a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selectee, an Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and, of course, an NBA Finals MVP.
The 29-year-old was the Celtics’ No. 3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of California and has spent his entire 10-year career with the franchise.
Now, Boston must decide whether to offer Brown in another trade or work to ensure it gets back on the same page with its longtime star.
