East Notes: Celtics, Jaylen Brown, Cavs, Bucks

Celtics

The Celtics are looking to do something no team has done this postseason — beat the Warriors two games in a row.

Given that the Celtics trail the Finals by a 3-2 count in the series, they have no choice. Game 6 is Thursday night in Boston.

“We haven’t backed down from a challenge all season,” forward Jaylen Brown told reporters. “We’re looking forward to coming out and getting a win, and forcing a Game 7.”

Guard Marcus Smart added that the Celtics are actually embracing the underdog role.

“If nobody’s talking about you, you ain’t doing nothing right,” he said.

While the Celtics focus is on winning the championship via the ol’ one-game-at-a-time mantra, Brown added is great experience for the entire group moving forward.

“This playoff run has been great for my personal growth and for our team,” Brown said. “Looking forward to Game 6 on our home floor in front of our home fans, should be a lot of fun.”

• That said, the Celtics look like they may have run out of magic after beating the favored Heat in the Eastern Conference finals, wrote Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. In order to claim the championship, the Celtics will need to win a Game 7 on an opposing court — as they did in Miami.

Cavaliers

• The Cavs may not be wise to exceed the salary cap to re-sign Collin Sexton, wrote Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. One thing we do seem to know is the Cavs want Sexton to return, but sources have told Hoops Wire it has to be at the right price. I wrote extensively about Sexton in my latest batch of Cavs Dribbles right here.
• Meanwhile, more reports are surfacing about the Cavs wanting to bring back Ricky Rubio, and while Rubio will explore free agency, Cleveland is very much on his radar, sources say. You can read more on that topic right here.
• As we relayed, the Cavs visited former Rockets center and current Israeli league MVP Chinanu Onuaku and should be considered a wildcard to bring him to camp. Full story on that is right here.
• Josh Cornelission of Fansided breaks down the pros and cons of the Cavs trading for Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon. While it is not believed the Cavs have even explored such a scenario, word out of Denver is that Gordon could be made available.

Bucks

• Former NBA guard/forward Tyreke Evans has been reinstated after a two-year drug ban, and the Bucks have displayed serious interest, per multiple reports. Evans visited with Milwaukee back in March, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
• Evans would be a good free agent target for the Bucks, per Dalton Sell of Fansided, and actually has ties to point guard Jrue Holiday from their time together with the Pelicans. Sell also lists Austin Rivers (Nuggets) and Lou Williams (Hawks) as free agent targets who might make sense. You can check out our full list of free agents right here.
• The Bucks have also expressed trade interest in Serbian shooting guard Vasilije Micic, per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Micic’s rights currently belong to the Thunder following the Al Horford trade with the Celtics. He last played for Turkish club Adadolu Efes but reports suggest he intends to play in the NBA next season.