Boston Celtics: Potential Jaylen Brown-Bradley Beal trade pros/cons

A big recent topic that has hit Boston Celtics Twitter is the idea of swapping Jaylen Brown for Bradley Beal.

Truth be told, this conversation was more pressing after Thursday night’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That loss is one some consider to be the worst of the season and Kendrick Perkins even went as far as to say the Cs should be ashamed of their performance.

Boston was missing Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Robert Williams, but did still have their other All-Star Jaylen Brown against an OKC squad that had lost 14 straight prior to the embarrassing 119-115 loss on Tuesday night.

The win against the Charlotte Hornets last night likely silenced critics…for now. But still, the Beal-Brown debate was one brought up by one of college basketball’s most notable figureheads, Jeff Goodman.

Celticsblog did a piece quoting what Goodman had said on CLNS Media’s Boston Celtics talk show, and Goodman responded to them on his verified Twitter page:

Goodman, like MassLive’s Brian Robb, Kendrick Perkins, and even Hardwood Houdini ourselves were distraught about the Thunder loss, but Goodman saw that game as one that was proof that Brown isn’t the 1A to Tatum.

Could Beal be, though? It’s a question that HH investigates today as we reach the final nine games of the 2020-21 season:

Boston Celtics pros of a Bradley Beal-for-Jaylen Brown trade

It’s no secret that Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum have a legitimate connection as fellow St. Louis products that went to Chaminade College Preparatory School. Their pride for their high school and home city often comes up whenever there is another hoops success story from the Gateway to the West and their friendship is evident whenever the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards share the court.

Besides the happiness boost one would have to expect from the two Missouri men being united together for the winningest franchise in the NBA, there could be some obvious on-court benefits as well.

Tatum and Beal would form a more traditional pick-and-pop due to Beal’s advanced passing skills compared to Brown. While he is a shooting guard by trade, Beal has picked up ball-handling duties in recent years due to the injuries plaguing John Wall and has answered the call admirably.

Beal’s game is less isolation-reliant than Brown’s, giving the Cs one less ball-dominant offensive threat. The former Florida Gator could be a lethal catch-and-shoot weapon in Brad Stevens’ movement based offensive schemes.

For Beal, he will have a brighter spotlight, which is pivotal considering the lack of respect he has seem to have gotten in Washington D.C. Playing for the franchise tied for the most championships ever is a surefire way not get lost in the mix any longer.

Boston Celtics cons of a Bradley Beal-for-Jaylen Brown trade

You know what they say about not fixing what isn’t broken. If you were to name the top 10 reasons why the Celtics haven’t been able to get their act together this season, neither Jaylen Brown’s nor Jayson Tatum’s name would pop into the equation.

Well, they would if you were referencing the team’s various injury and COVID-19-related absences. Several times in fact.

Boston has been a winner since the duo first shared the court together in the fall of 2017, and have banded together to overcome all of the various injuries the team saw in that first season to come within one game of an NBA Finals berth.

Last year they were just two games from a finals berth down in the Lake Buena Vista bubble down in Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex. Teams that consistently make deep runs with under-25 All-Stars aren’t blow-it-up candidates typically.

Before thinking about breaking up the Jays, Boston would be better off taking a look at the top down. Danny Ainge has made plenty of gambles in the draft and trade market that haven’t worked out. Brad Stevens has underachieved and failed to break through the glass ceiling.

It may not be time yet to send one of the Jays packing. Time will tell if that narrative will stick, though as the years pass by.

Verdict: Boston Celtics need not trade Brown for Beal just yet.