The Boston Celtics should trade Jaylen Brown for LaMelo Ball
Having discussed the path forward that gives the Celtics a win-now star, let’s look at the opposite door, where the Celtics move Jaylen Brown for a much younger point guard. LeMelo Ball just finished his third season in the league and boasts plenty of upside and a long prime just starting to crack open.
For the Hornets the math is simple. With the No. 2 pick in the draft this year they would be in line to draft Scoot Henderson. If they believe he is the best prospect on the board they should take him, and that would clear the way to trade LaMelo. Flipping him for a proven two-way wing like Jaylen Brown would be a no-brainer move.
For the Celtics, they would get a dynamic on-ball creator with amazing passing vision and plenty of scoring ability. He still has a ways to go defensively, but at 6’7″ he has the frame to stand up on that end and fit well in the Celtics’ scheme. Marcus Smart would be an excellent teacher on that end.
Is Boston comfortable with the slower timetable and unknown upside of Ball? Perhaps or perhaps not, but it represents a different path and lengthens their window while resetting their salary structure. Can the Celtics win a title with Ball as the No. 2 alongside Tatum? If the Celtics conclude they can’t with Brown, it’s worth thinking about.