Just a few months ago, it would've been unthinkable to think that the Boston Celtics would trade Jaylen Brown. However, it's now a move that has slowly gained traction as one that could trigger the Miami Heat's worst fears, as it could end the team's dream pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Now that the Celtics have been reported as arguably the Heat's biggest threat in the Giannis sweepstakes, Brad Stevens could trigger the fans' worst fears with one bold move.
Because, theoretically, if the Celtics are willing to trade Brown, it would completely alter the perception of the leader in the clubhouse for Giannis.
The Heat didn't plan for this Celtics' trump move
Up until now, the Heat have seemingly felt great about their standing in their pursuit of Giannis. But Stevens and the Celtics may have just changed that. There's no one asset, or perhaps even a collection of assets, that the Heat have at their disposal that could meet the value of Brown.
No matter if that's with the Bucks keeping Brown on their roster or flipping him to a third team, it's pretty clear that if Milwaukee is looking for a premier asset in return for Giannis, he would be somewhat of an ideal target.
In short, the Heat just didn't plan for this. And it could end up blowing up their entire offseason pipe dream.
Miami was always taking a risk when they essentially made the offseason Giannis-or-bust. But out of all the potential teams that the Heat thought would be in the running for Giannis, it's difficult to suggest that they believed the Celtics would be one of them.
And now that they are, the Heat are in danger of leaving the offseason empty-handed.
The offseason could turn dark quickly for the Heat
An offseason in which they desperately needed to make something happen can get quite dark for the Heat rather quickly. Considering it was starting to feel as if the stars were beginning to align for the Heat, Stevens and the Celtics stealing Giannis right from out of their grasp would truly be a nightmarish scenario for the franchise.
In fact, there's an argument to be made that it would be as close to the worst thing to ever happen to the Heat in quite some time. If things shifted from the Heat being in the driver's seat for Giannis to the Celtics finding a way to close the deal, it's hard to imagine how Miami is able to pivot at all this offseason.
Theoretically speaking, they'd find a way. Because they always do.
However, I'm not sure how they'd be able to sell any type of vision that isn't a complete teardown of the current roster if things fell this way this offseason.
If the Heat's worst fears come to fruition this offseason, there's a good (and growing) chance that it will be because of Stevens and the Celtics. And I'm not sure how fans are expected to live with that reality if it happened.
Add us as a preferred source on Google