Boston Celtics: Unlikely proposal sends Jaylen Brown to Cleveland for former lottery picks, several future draft selections

The Boston Celtics no longer have macro-needs in the form of a Kevin Durant acquisition. With Durant and Brooklyn Nets ownership coming to an agreement to move forward with the current front office and head coach Steve Nash, the Cs simply shifted focus to filling their final three roster spots.

Given Danilo Gallinari’s recent torn left meniscus, the need to find a scoring forward for the second unit is a more urgent issue. CelticsBlog’s Keith Smith listed Carmelo Anthony among several free agents the team could target, but Boston has loaded up on veteran training camp signings in hopes several of them will make the roster.

The blockbuster trade route has seemingly been all but abandoned by the Cs after a summer of wondering whether or not Jaylen Brown was progressively getting pissed off about trade talks — his social media activity certainly seemed to indicate he was. Brown and Boston most certainly appear to be on the same page now, making a trade before the 2024 trade deadline unlikely.

But that didn’t stop NBA Analysis Network’s James Piercey from coming up with a Brown blockbuster that sends No. 7 to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, two future first-round picks, and two future pick-swaps:

"Boston Celtics Receive: G Collin Sexton, G/F Isaac Okoro, 2024 1st Round Pick (Swap – CLE), 2025 1st Round Pick (CLE), 2026 1st Round Pick (Swap – CLE), 2027 1st Round Pick (CLE)Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G/F Jaylen Brown"

Now is not the time for the Boston Celtics to make any deal like this

Playing pretend for a second, this would be a fine trade offer for the Celtics if by the NBA trade deadline the relationship between Jaylen Brown and the organization has completely deteriorated.

Only in that scenario would Cs President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens consider such a swap. That’s no knock to Collin Sexton or Isaac Okoro, who could grow into perfect role players on a winning team. Still, neither profiles as a franchise cornerstone–Sexton’s defense will hold him back from being an elite two-way threat, and thus, a true superstar–and the draft picks don’t justify such a downgrade from a reigning Eastern Conference champion.