If the Boston Celtics are actually open to the idea of trading Jaylen Brown, the Miami Heat's dreams of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo are truly over.
The Heat have a competitive offer on the table, and one that could beat out some of the other possible offers for Giannis, but they can't beat a Celtics' trade package that centers around Brown.
It should be noted that while it's rumored that the Celtics could be open to trading Brown, that isn't a certainty as of now. But, again, no one really knows whether Boston would be willing to go down that path until it happens.
That's the real fear as the Heat continue to wait on the Bucks.
The Heat can't beat a Celtics offer that includes Jaylen Brown
In theory, it doesn't make a ton of sense for the Celtics to trade Brown. They won an NBA Championship a couple of years ago, and teams don't generally break up young cores like that.
The duo of Jayson Tatum and Brown has been so good together. Then again, players like Giannis don't become available that often. And when they do, great organizations are the ones that take advantage.
It's what Miami has prided itself on over the last few decades. It's the reason why they've won the majority of their championships, on the backs of the acquisitions of Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and even Jimmy Butler (despite not winning a championship in 2020 or 2023).
The problem is, Boston has become the better close than Miami of late. Right now, their front office is operating at an unworldly level. Boston has become better at asset collection and trade execution, and they've even done more winning than the Heat in the post-LeBron era.
And they might be on the verge of prying Giannis away from the Heat, too.
The Heat is living in Brad Stevens' world right now
The worst part about all this is that there's nothing the Heat can do. The Celtics have a better asset and, because of that, they're going to have the better package.
If Boston is indeed willing to go all-in on Giannis, which would include trading Brown (likely to a third team, with young players and draft capital being sent back to Milwaukee), there is no counteroffer the Heat can make that would trump it.
With momentum picking up, that this is what's happening, the Heat will be left, once again, without a dance partner on the trade floor. And another pipe dream scenario will go up in flames.
Another frustrating part of this is that the Heat only has itself to blame. Brad Stevens can take the Heat's lunch if he wants, and there's nothing Pat Riley can do about it.
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