Jimmy Haslam is haunted by the ghosts of his recent past. The Cleveland Browns majority owner (alongside wife Dee Haslam) and Milwaukee Bucks co-owner (also with Dee) is apparently trying to learn from his mistakes and avoid another potential catastrophe. Take that, Dawg Pound. These experiences carried plenty of weight during the lead-up to the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade that was agreed upon by the Bucks and Miami Heat on Monday night.
Fearing another dragged-out saga a la Myles Garrett and Antetokounmpo, Haslam felt that it was safer to take Pat Riley’s offer rather than acquire Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. The concern was that the 2024 NBA Finals MVP would eventually seek an exit like the aforementioned superstars, per Yahoo Sports podcaster and writer Kevin O’Connor.
There was uncertainty surrounding Brown’s feelings about a potential Milwaukee union. If he had forced the organization’s hand and requested a trade, there is no guarantee that the Bucks would have been able to flip him quickly. Enduring more lengthy negotiations and answering endless questions from the media probably sounds unpleasant to someone who has been under constant attack over the last several years like Haslam has.
His inability to stabilize the Browns eventually led to the organization sending record-breaking edge rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Milwaukee ran into the same problem with Giannis Antetokounmpo, following its failed attempts to build another championship-caliber roster. Jaylen Brown has competed in high-stakes basketball for much of his career and may not have been thrilled about leading a transition era in Cream City.
Ultimately, Haslam and the rest of the Bucks’ ownership group accepted a deal that will net them 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro, Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Jaime Jaquez Jr., 22-year-old center Kel’el Ware, 20-year-old guard Kasparas Jakucionis, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, two future first-round selections, one pick swap and one future second-rounder. They now have a young core that will ideally carry a flexible timetable.
Though, even if fans are on board with this blockbuster, they will probably feel a bit uneasy after learning about the influence that Jimmy Haslam allegedly wielded during these proceedings.
Jimmy Haslam is haunted by the ghosts of his recent past. The Cleveland Browns majority owner (alongside wife Dee Haslam) and Milwaukee Bucks co-owner (also with Dee) is apparently trying to learn from his mistakes and avoid another potential catastrophe. Take that, Dawg Pound.
