Jaylen Brown Trade Would Vault Nikola Jokic, Nuggets Back into Title Contention amid NBA Rumors

The mere presence of three-time MVP Nikola Jokić grants the Denver Nuggets a degree of relevance in the NBA championship chase.

And yet, this is as far removed from the title race as they've felt at any point since capturing the crown in 2023. They have just two playoff series wins to show for the last three seasons combined, and neither of them was secured during this season, as they were tripped up in the opening round by the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (who played parts of that series without superstar Anthony Edwards).

While the most prominent faces from Denver's championship core remain, the roster still feels in need of a recharge. And opportunity just so happens to be pounding down the door.

Trade winds are swirling around Boston Celtics five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, and the Nuggets are hoping to get swept up in them. They have reportedly "at least internally discussed whether they have the asset wherewithal to join the trade chase for Boston's Brown," per NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto also included the Nuggets among the group of teams showing "trade interest" in Brown. Scotto added that the Celtics have "kept tabs" on Denver's Swiss Army knife Aaron Gordon, a potentially relevant note given the Nuggets' lack of draft capital.

It's worth noting that Denver's draft pick deficit could torpedo any trade plans for Brown before they even get rolling. The Athletic's Sam Amick characterized the Nuggets' interest in Brown as "unrealistic" while adding that the Celtics have been seeking "up to four first-round picks."

If Boston wants a pile of draft picks, then Denver is probably drawing dead here. But maybe a Celtics team residing in the Eastern Conference top tier should be much more focused on the present. Four first-round picks would absolutely be a haul, but how would they help Jayson Tatum go title-chasing during his prime?

Boston would presumably have interest in packaging at least a few of those picks for established talent. Denver, then, should try convincing it to cut out the middle man and just move Brown for championship-level players.

It would make the deal painful, to be clear. Gordon and filler isn't getting it done. Maybe Jamal Murray has to be included. Perhaps Boston would want to get restricted free agent Peyton Watson in the exchange.

The Nuggets aren't getting Brown for cheap. Because they shouldn't. He is, objectively speaking, awesome at basketball. He just piloted the Shamrocks to a 56-win season, started in the All-Star Game, snagged an All-NBA second-team spot and finished sixth in MVP voting.

He contributes at both ends. He has knockout-powered scoring punch from all three levels. He competes on the glass. He makes plays defensively. He has some limitations as an on-ball creator, but that concern could evaporate alongside Jokić, who is on of the best table-setters this league has ever seen.

Murray is a really good player. Gordon is on a short list of the Association's top glue guys. Watson is a relentless defender.

None of them are on Brown's level. He would bring a different level of stardom to this roster.

More importantly, he'd do something the others perhaps can't: Give championship hopes to Jokić and the Nuggets again. That potential prize is worth every bit whatever price Denver would have to pay.