Hawks, Clippers floated as possible third teams in Giannis-Jaylen Brown scenarios

The Celtics and Jaylen Brown rumors are not going away. And now they may be intersecting with the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation in Milwaukee.

According to multiple reports, the Hawks and Clippers have been floated as possible third teams in hypothetical trade constructions that would send Antetokounmpo to Boston.

The basic framework? The Bucks would receive a combination of premium draft picks and young players, while Brown would land elsewhere rather than in Milwaukee.

For the Clippers, that could mean dangling the No. 5 overall pick. Atlanta, meanwhile, owns the No. 8 selection and has young talent that could appeal to a rebuilding Bucks team.

To be clear, this remains speculation for now.

But there’s definitely growing chatter around the NBA that Boston could at least listen on Brown this offseason after another disappointing playoff exit. The Celtics previously held brief discussions with Atlanta involving Brown last summer before talks fizzled, according to SI.com’s Chris Mannix.

The LA Clippers and Atlanta Hawks have been floated as possible third teams that would acquire Jaylen Brown in deals where the Boston Celtics acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @HavlicekStoleIt.

“The Bucks [would] get a combination of premium draft picks such as the No. 5 pick… pic.twitter.com/QiBY1taedH

— APHoops (@APH00PS) May 21, 2026

At the same time, Milwaukee is very much taking calls on Antetokounmpo.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported recently that the Bucks are open to trade discussions ahead of the draft, while co-owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged a major decision on Giannis’ future is looming within the next several weeks.

Boston’s side of the equation is complicated too.

Brown remains an All-NBA caliber player in his prime, but he also is owed more than $183 million over the next three seasons. That massive contract naturally makes any potential trade scenario enormous in scope.

Still, if Antetokounmpo truly becomes available, rival executives expect just about every contender to explore creative pathways. Including the Celtics.