Brian Windhorst drops Jaylen Brown revelation about his future with the Celtics

When Brad Stevens met with the media after the first round of this year's NBA Draft, he had the chance to say the Boston Celtics are not trading Jaylen Brown. Many within the fan base didn't want them to do so for Giannis Antetokounmpo. It was a sentiment sparked by the injury risks with the latter and an affinity for a homegrown star whose decade with the franchise includes helping lead them to Banner 18. There's also concern that trading Brown now won't return equal, let alone better value.

Even if that's the case, and the former NBA Finals MVP remains in Boston, it's understandable that Stevens wouldn't voice a definitive statement about the five-time All-Star's future.

Of course, the driving force behind that may have been a belief that the Celtics' best path forward requires breaking up their current cornerstones, Brown and Jayson Tatum.

"He's gonna get traded," stated Brian Windhorst on Unsportsmanlike on ESPN Radio on Thursday. "It's not a guarantee that they're gonna be able to find a deal that they like that's gonna improve the team, but I think they are intending to trade him."

Why would the Celtics want to trade Jaylen Brown?

First, it's still possible that he's on the team next season. Don't take that possibility off the table. However, Windhorst, who, like Stevens, left himself some wiggle room, made his outlook on the situation clear.

Brown could have communicated a desire for a fresh start. He finally got a chance to shoulder more offensive responsibility last season. Previously, he may have reached a point where he was skeptical that it would ever happen. What he did with that opportunity validated his vision. It silenced doubters and brought him peace of mind. It might also be the direction he desires to continue in, even if it means going elsewhere.

The Marietta, Georgia, native has checked so many boxes off during his decade in Boston. He helped lead a storied franchise to the NBA's summit. That journey came with Eastern Conference and Finals MVP honors. He has earned multiple All-NBA Second Team selections, started in the All-Star Game, and signed multiple max contracts. When he signed the supermax he is on now, it was the most lucrative extension in league history.

The next mountain for him to climb might call for continuing to be atop a team's hierarchy, building off a campaign where he inserted his name into the MVP conversation. If that's what Brown wants, the time to do so is now. He turns 30 in October. Embarking on that journey while he's still in his prime is paramount.

Then, there's the Celtics side of the equation. They just suffered an opening-round exit, squandering a 3-1 series lead for the first time in the organization's history. The previous postseason saw them blow a pair of 20-point second-half leads on their home parquet. That series loss to the New York Knicks, with this year's first-round flameout against the Philadelphia 76ers, may have signaled that it's time for a new era.

A more punitive, parity-promoting collective bargaining agreement [CBA] could also compel them to build around one player on a max contract, with a stronger supporting cast, rather than their current approach.

If the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown, what might the return be?

With Antetokounmpo now in South Beach, joining the Miami Heat, it's unlikely that Boston would get the best player in a deal for its star wing. When considering potential trade scenarios, it's more conceivable that the organization gains flexibility and bolsters the upper-middle class of its roster.

For instance, the Celtics could acquire Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans. He could come to Boston with Dejounte Murray. Herbert Jones could be in the deal as well. However, given the crowded depth chart at the wing position, it would make sense if he got rerouted to increase the return for Brown.

An alternative potential trade with the Pelicans could include taking a swing on Zion Williamson. That's a more aggressive approach. And New Orleans seems like a franchise that would prefer to keep the former first overall pick. Brown could be the centerpiece of a proposal that changes their stance.

Another trade pitch is to see what an elite infrastructure and the chance to flank Tatum could do for Evan Mobley. The Cleveland Cavaliers might not want to give up their last young building block, but with a backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, they have a short window to try to capitalize on.

There are certainly other options that one can fire up their favorite trade machine and concoct. For example, Brown could end up with his hometown Atlanta Hawks while Jalen Johnson headlines what Boston receives.

It is hard to find a package that one can point to and say, "This deal makes the Celtics better." It could, in the long run, though, especially with the challenges presented by this CBA, if they gain more roster-building flexibility.

And while some may not believe that trading Brown is the direction to go in, if he has communicated to the organization that he wants a fresh start and the chance to continue in the role he finally had this season, it's reasonable to believe they'd oblige. He has three years left on his contract, so they don't have to, but it could be a factor informing what's unfolding.

Regardless of why, Windhorst is one of the most respected and informed NBA reporters. If he's voicing an expectation that the Celtics will trade Jaylen Brown this summer, one should be preparing to say goodbye to a person who was a pillar in the community and helped author one of the most successful chapters in the history of one of sports' most storied franchises.

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