Celtics Reportedly Prefer Not to Trade Jaylen Brown, Derrick White Amid Holiday Rumors

The Boston Celtics would "prefer not to" move Jaylen Brown or Derrick White this offseason despite "big offers" from other teams, ESPN's Shams Charania said Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show.

"The primary focus, from my understanding, with the Celtics' offseason has been Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Sam Hauser. Their trade markets," Charania said.

"Now, are teams making big offers and calling about Jaylen Brown and Derrick White? 100 percent. The Celtics prefer not to trade 'em, from my understanding."

Charania's comments come after Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor reported Tuesday that the Celtics are "open to trading anybody" other than Jayson Tatum.

The Celtics are preparing to start the 2025-26 season without Tatum, who underwent surgery on the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered during Boston's playoff run on May 13.

Brown underwent a right knee procedure on Wednesday but is expected to return in time for training camp, according to the Celtics.

The Celtics are likely going to need to move on this summer from some of the players who helped the team win the 2024 title if the franchise wants to avoid coming in over the second luxury tax apron for a second straight season.

Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said in a March appearance on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show (h/t Boston.com's Khari A. Thompson) that he didn't believe any team would be able to stay above the second apron "more than two years."

“It’s not the luxury tax bill, it’s the basketball penalties,” Grousbeck said at the time, referring to the trade and free agency restrictions imposed as part of the NBA's tightening cap rules.

With Tatum's supermax extension set to kick in next season and Brown already making more than $53 million, the Celtics have already committed almost 70 percent of the 2025-26 cap to their top two players, according to Spotrac.

According to Charania, it's more likely the Celtics look to move the contracts of players like Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7 million cap hit in 2025-26) or Sam Hauser ($10 million cap hit next season) than either of those two stars or White's $28.1 million deal.

A Porzingis trade could come at a cost, given the lingering health issues that limited him during the 2025 postseason.

Hauser could meanwhile attract teams looking for wing depth. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix recently described Hauser as "the most likely candidate" for a trade this offseason given that 2024 first-round pick Baylor Scheierman is waiting in the wings to take over his role.

Jrue Holiday, who is set to make $32.4 million next season, could also be a candidate for a move if the Celtics could find a trade partner. NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported that the Celtics are "listening on calls" about Holiday this offseason.