The NBA offseason is a chess match, not a sprint. And the biggest move on the board right now involves the game’s most unique piece: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Milwaukee Bucks are, at the very least, listening to offers. The Boston Celtics are, at the very least, interested. And if those two sides can find common ground, a third team will almost certainly need to be involved.
That third team, according to Heavy Sports NBA insider Sean Deveney, could be the Orlando Magic.
Not the Miami Heat. Not the New York Knicks. Not the Golden State Warriors. The Orlando Magic — a young, rising squad that just fired their head coach and is searching for an identity.
Let me break down why Orlando makes sense, what a three-team trade could look like, and why Jaylen Brown in a Magic uniform might be the most fascinating subplot of the entire offseason.
The Deveney Report: Orlando as the Third Team
Let me start with the source.
Sean Deveney is a veteran NBA insider. He’s been around the league for decades. He knows how these deals come together. And he recently laid out a scenario that makes a ton of sense.
Here’s what he wrote:
“The Magic’s future looked so bright just 10 months ago. They’ve fired coach Jamahl Mosley as expected, and probably will see how things play out before they make major personnel moves. But an opportunity to land Brown might change the outlook. The Magic are lacking picks, but a package built around Franz Wagner and Anthony Black would be formidable.”
Let me translate that: Orlando has the young talent to acquire a star like Jaylen Brown, even if they don’t have a treasure chest of draft picks. Franz Wagner and Anthony Black are two building blocks that would appeal to a rebuilding team like Milwaukee.
The Celtics get Giannis. The Bucks get young assets and picks. The Magic get Jaylen Brown.
Everybody wins.
Why the Magic Are the Perfect Third Team
Let me explain why Orlando is the ideal facilitator in this blockbuster.
Reason No. 1: They have what Milwaukee wants.
The Bucks are rebuilding. They don’t want a 30-year-old star coming back in a trade for Giannis. They want young players on rookie contracts and draft picks.
Orlando has Franz Wagner (23 years old, already a 20-point-per-game scorer) and Anthony Black (22 years old, a former top-10 pick with two-way potential). Those are exactly the kind of assets a rebuilding team craves.
Reason No. 2: They have a hole at wing.
The Magic just fired head coach Jamahl Mosley. They’re searching for an identity. They have a talented young core — Paolo Banchero, Wagner, Black, Jalen Suggs — but they lack a proven veteran star.
Jaylen Brown is a proven veteran star. He’s a champion. He’s a Finals MVP. He’s a two-way wing who can score 25 points per night and guard the opposing team’s best player.
He would instantly become the best player on the Magic’s roster.
Reason No. 3: They need to make a splash.
Orlando has been rebuilding for years. The fan base is restless. The front office needs to show that they’re serious about winning.
Acquiring Jaylen Brown would be a statement. It would say: “We’re done collecting picks. We’re done developing projects. We’re trying to win now.”
The Three-Team Trade: How It Could Look
Let me put some meat on the bones of Deveney’s proposal.
Boston Celtics receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, multiple first-round picks (from Orlando and/or Boston), and salary filler
Orlando Magic receive: Jaylen Brown
Let me break down why each team says yes.
Why Boston says yes: They get a top-5 player in the world. Giannis next to Jayson Tatum is a nightmare for the rest of the league. The Celtics would instantly become the favorites in the Eastern Conference. They give up Brown, but they get a player who fills a different need — rim protection, rebounding, and interior scoring.
Why Milwaukee says yes: They get a young star in Franz Wagner (23 years old, already a 20-point scorer), a promising prospect in Anthony Black (22 years old, former top-10 pick), and multiple first-round picks. That’s a haul. That’s how you rebuild quickly.
Why Orlando says yes: They get a proven superstar in Jaylen Brown. He’s 29 years old — squarely in his prime. He’s under contract for several more years. He immediately makes the Magic a playoff team and gives them a fighting chance in the Eastern Conference.
The Franz Wagner Question: Is He Worth Building Around?
Let me talk about the centerpiece of Milwaukee’s return.
Franz Wagner is 23 years old. He averaged over 20 points per game last season. He’s a 6-foot-10 wing who can shoot, pass, and defend. He’s already one of the most underrated players in the league.
Would the Bucks want him? Absolutely. He’s exactly the kind of player you build a team around — young, skilled, and already productive.
Would the Magic want to give him up? That’s the harder question. Wagner is the second-best player on their roster behind Paolo Banchero. Trading him would hurt.
But you have to give up good players to get great players. Jaylen Brown is a great player. Franz Wagner is a good player. That’s an upgrade.
The Anthony Black Question: A Lottery Ticket
Let me talk about the other piece.
Anthony Black was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He’s 22 years old. He’s a 6-foot-7 guard with playmaking ability and defensive versatility. He hasn’t broken out yet, but the potential is obvious.
For Milwaukee, Black is a lottery ticket. He could become a star. He could become a rotation player. Either way, he’s a valuable asset on a rookie contract.
The Bucks would be betting on his development. That’s a risk, but it’s a risk worth taking when you’re rebuilding.
What About Paolo Banchero?
Let me address the elephant in the room.
If the Magic are trading for Jaylen Brown, why isn’t Paolo Banchero included in the deal?
Because Banchero is untouchable. He’s the franchise cornerstone. He’s a 6-foot-10 forward who can score from all three levels. He’s already an All-Star. The Magic are not trading him.
Wagner is the price you pay to get a star without giving up your best player. That’s the deal.
Why Jaylen Brown Fits in Orlando
Let me talk about the fit.
The Magic’s offense has been inconsistent. They lack a go-to scorer in the half-court. They lack a player who can create his own shot when the offense breaks down.
Jaylen Brown is that player.
He’s a 25-point-per-night scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere. He’s a capable playmaker. He’s a plus defender. He’s a proven winner.
Next to Banchero, Brown would be the perfect second option. Banchero is the primary creator. Brown is the killer. Defenses would have to pick their poison.
The Magic would instantly become a top-4 team in the Eastern Conference with that duo.
The Celtics’ New Big Three: Tatum, Giannis, and Porzingis (or Someone Else)
Let me briefly touch on Boston’s side.
The Celtics would have Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and (presumably) Kristaps Porzingis or another big man. That’s a terrifying frontcourt.
Tatum spaces the floor. Giannis attacks the rim. Porzingis (or whoever) stretches the defense. Good luck stopping that.
The Celtics would lose Jaylen Brown, which is painful. He’s a champion. He’s a fan favorite. He’s been to the mountaintop with Tatum.
But Giannis is a different level of player. He’s a two-time MVP. He’s a Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a Finals MVP. He’s a top-5 player in the world.
You make that trade every time.
The Bucks’ Rebuild: A Long Road Ahead
Let me acknowledge what Milwaukee would be giving up.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the greatest player in Bucks history. He brought them a championship in 2021. He’s been loyal. He’s been dominant.
Trading him would be devastating for the fan base. But if he wants out — and all signs suggest he might — the Bucks have to do what’s best for the franchise.
A package of Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, and multiple first-round picks is a strong start. It’s not a replacement for Giannis — nothing is — but it’s a foundation.
The Bucks would have cap space, young talent, and draft capital. That’s how rebuilds begin.
What the Insiders Are Saying
Let me pull in a few more perspectives.
Deveney’s report is the most specific, but other insiders have mentioned the Magic as a potential third team. The logic is sound: Orlando has young talent, needs a veteran star, and has the cap flexibility to make a deal work.
The Celtics have been linked to Giannis for months. The Bucks are listening to offers. The Magic are looking for a splash.
The pieces are on the board. Now it’s just a matter of whether the teams can agree on the value.
Final Verdict: Don’t Sleep on Orlando
Here’s my honest take.
The Orlando Magic are not the sexy pick. They’re not the Miami Heat. They’re not the New York Knicks. They’re not the Golden State Warriors.
But they might be the smartest pick.
They have young assets that Milwaukee would actually want. They have a hole at wing that Jaylen Brown would fill perfectly. They have the cap flexibility to absorb his contract without gutting their roster.
If the Celtics and Bucks can agree on a framework, the Magic are the ideal third team.
Jaylen Brown in a Magic uniform would look strange at first. But after a few games — after he drops 30 points and locks down the opposing team’s best player — it would start to make sense.
Orlando has been waiting for a star. They might finally get one.
One thing’s certain: The three-team trade market is about to heat up. And the Orlando Magic are right in the middle of it.