The Cavaliers, Celtics, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown could be the most talked-about entities in the NBA trade rumor mill this offseason. The Celtics suffered a shocking first-round exit as the No. 2 seed against the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers got swept by the New York Knicks after a bumpy ride to the conference finals.
The Bucks have made it public that they will move Antetokounmpo if the sides can’t agree to an extension. As for Brown, while there’s nothing concrete, there’s speculation that Boston might consider moving him. So far, Antetokounmpo has been linked with the Cavaliers and Celtics, but Boston is reportedly a destination he prefers.
As for the Cavaliers, the team’s not interested in parting ways with Evan Mobley for the two-time MVP, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. However, things can change in the blink of an eye in the NBA. An embarrassing loss in the conference finals may force Cleveland to make bold calls after coming so close to a return to the finals in the post-LeBron James era.
Considering that Antetokounmpo will hold the cards in his future and the latest report from NBA insider Marc Stein suggesting he likes the idea of joining Boston, the Cavaliers might be out of the race for him. Nevertheless, that also opens up Cleveland’s prospects of considering a target like Brown, who has a close relationship with Donovan Mitchell.
Here’s a mock trade proposal that could see these moves unfold this summer.
NBA Mock Trade: Jaylen Brown to Cavaliers, Giannis Antetokounmpo to Celtics in 3-Team Deal
The Cavaliers need more wing depth and a bona fide All-Star who can shoulder the burden offensively with Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland added James Harden at the deadline for it, but the former MVP is past his prime and is better off as a third option and a primary playmaker alone.
Jaylen Brown emerges as an intriguing target for the Cavaliers to consider, given that he’s coming off his best individual season. Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, shooting 47.7% from the field. In a presumed break year for the Celtics without Jayson Tatum, Brown led them to the No. 2 seed.
In the playoffs, he led them to a 3-1 series lead before the Celtics suffered a meltdown in the last three games. Brown was still the best with Tatum back, averaging 25.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 3.3 apg on 45.5% shooting, including 40.5% from 3-point range.
The Cavaliers have one first-round pick to trade in either 2031 or 2032, as their 2033 pick is frozen since they were the only team over the second apron this season. That said, swooping in as the third team in a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the Celtics and trading for Brown could mean parting ways with Evan Mobley, Cleveland’s best young asset.
As solid as Mobley is, the Cavaliers are in a win-now situation and moving the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year could be the bold trade they need to get to the next level. Brown is a better shot creator and scorer offensively and he fills the Cavaliers’ need to shore up their perimeter defense.
Here’s the proposed mock trade sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Celtics and Jaylen Brown to the Cavaliers:
Cavaliers receive
- Jaylen Brown (via Boston)
Celtics receive
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (via Milwaukee)
Bucks receive
- Evan Mobley (via Cleveland)
- Hugo Gonzalez (via Boston)
- Max Strus (via Cleveland)
- Celtics’ 2027 first-round pick
- Celtics’ 2031 first-round pick
The Celtics give up two first-round picks and a prospect like Huge Gonzalez, along with Jaylen Brown, to make this move possible. The Bucks can rebuild around Mobley as their franchise player with Gonzalez as another long-term prospect. For Cleveland, it preserves its limited draft capital in essentially a straight swap by facilitating Boston’s deal for Antetokounmpo.
This trade only makes sense if the Cavaliers don’t have a shot at Antetokounmpo. If he shows an inclination to join Donovan Mitchell and Co., it’s a no-brainer for the Cavaliers to prefer him over Jaylen Brown in such a trade.
