If the Boston Celtics want Giannis Antetokounmpo, they won't have much time to wait around.
The Miami Heat are in the same boat, and reportedly already have an offer on the table. Boston is going to have to part ways with Jaylen Brown if they want to move talks along, and the Atlanta Hawks could be mighty intrigued by the possibility of stealing him.
According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Milwaukee Bucks would look to re-route Brown to in a potential Antetokounmpo-Boston deal, "with the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans among potential landing spots."
A rushed deal could mean less Atlanta has to give up for Brown
The biggest reason there's so much hesitancy from the Hawks' fanbase in regards to a potential Brown acquisition is the cost. Nobody is knocking him as a player, as he's a proven winner in the modern NBA. Giving up on a promising young core and asset field in order to bring him in would be unwise, and they wouldn't do it, but maybe that won't have to be the case.
If not, a golden opportunity suddenly opens up for Atlanta.
They'll have to part ways with something of value, of course, but as long as they keep their core together in doing so - by all means. Atlanta shouldn't have to give up Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Jalen Johnson. What good is a superstar-caliber player if he doesn't at least have a solid group behind him?
The Boston Celtics may really want to get this done before the Heat, or any other surprise team, come through with an offer Milwaukee can't resist. If they view Antetokounmpo as the guy who can take them back to the promised land, then it's a gamble worth taking.
Maybe Boston will include more of their valuable assets, along with Brown, to bring in the two-time MVP. That would mean Atlanta, as the third team in the blockbuster deal, would have to sacrifice less.
Atlanta is in a great position regardless of if they bring him in or not
Leverage, folks.
The Hawks can do their due diligence around the league without having to commit to a franchise-changing alteration. General Manager Onsi Saleh has quickly gained much-needed respect from the league's top executives, and they have no choice but to listen to his offers with real weight and open-mindedness.
If he pulls this off without parting with major capital, he should have a statue outside of State Farm Arena. Jaylen Brown is that good, and he's a hometown hero.
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