Celtics Must Not Trade Jaylen Brown After Porzingis, Holiday Deals Amid NBA Rumors
It was well established entering the off-season that the Boston Celtics badly needed to clear cap space amid the highest payroll in the NBA, and the organization got a jump on doing so with the trades of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
The team may not be done, though.
Brian Windhorst told ESPN's Get Up that neither Derrick White nor Jaylen Brown is off limits when it comes to trade discussions.
"As for the other two star players, I don't think Derrick White and Jalen Brown are players that they want to trade. Having said that, if somebody calls with a gigantic offer, I think that they would have to discuss it," he said.
The NBA insider added, "But as [Bobby Marks] described, they probably are going to have to make multiple more moves to save this money that they need to save."
One of the team's emotional leaders, Brown should be off-limits.
The Celtics entered the off-season with payroll "on track to come in around $225 million," putting the team over the salary cap threshold for the third consecutive season. Add to that a historic $500 million total price tag and it was clear that ownership and the front office had to do something to clear up some cap space.
It is also understandable that insiders could conceivably see executives looking long and hard at Brown's five-year, $304 million super max deal and searching for a trade partner willing to take at least some of that monster contract off the books.
With that said, the team absolutely should not trade Brown away, regardless of the financial conundrum it currently finds itself in.
After Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Celtics saw their run as NBA champions come to a heartbreaking end at the hands of the New York Knicks, Brown addressed fans, telling them, "I know, Boston, it looks gloomy right now obviously with JT being out, and us ending the year, but there’s a lot to look forward to. I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end."
He was the calming influence amid expectations that Tatum would miss the majority of the next season. Now, with Porzingis and Holiday gone, and questions surrounding the makeup of the roster entering the 2025-26 season, the Celtics need Brown. The team has to get behind its remaining star, not panic, and let the fans know that they remain committed to winning now and in the future.
Heavy.com reported that the team wants to make a big splash in the NBA Draft. "...league sources are telling Heavy Sports the club would like to buy a ticket for the Wednesday night drawing," the outlet states, with Illinois point guard Kasparas Jakucionis being the object of the team's desire.
It would take a monumental package to convince any team to fall back to the No. 28 spot, one that would potentially include Brown. If that is the case, the Celtics should stay put. Select a big like Ryan Kalkbrenner with that first pick and eye a guard with the 32nd pick that they received from Washington.
The team has the opportunity to introduce two rookies to the mix, on smaller deals, restocking the cabinet for Boston in time for Tatum to return from injury and get back to winning alongside Brown.
Trading the latter away before that can happen not only serves as an admission of defeat in the upcoming season but risks alienating a fan base that already expects the worst given Tatum's injury status and he salary cap hell the organization finds itself in.
Retain Brown, let him and his 22.2 points and in 34.3 minutes a game, lead the team to a potential playoff berth of some kind in 2025, and reap the rewards of a rejuvenated tandem of him and Tatum a year from now, all to the delight of fans and with the potential for future success by way of the calculated picks made in the NBA Draft.
