Transactions are oftentimes the most fun part about following the NBA for some fans. They love the drama, the potential fit, the photoshops of players in another team’s uniform. The league itself, is often driven by transactions, too.
It’s how contenders are built. Most of the time, at least.
Apparently, when the Boston Celtics were building the eventual 2024 NBA Championship team, they almost traded for now New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach dropped this tidbit as part of a larger feature on new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm.
The Celtics almost traded for Jalen Brunson
Himmelsbach shared that Brad Stevens outlined the “crumbled” potential trade with Chisholm, during an early visit to the Auerbach Center.
"He returned to Boston to meet with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, and Grousbeck placed the 2024 championship trophy on a conference table to set the tone,” Himmelsbach wrote. “Stevens projected his computer screen onto a wall and shared a rare glimpse into his basketball mind. He described how big deals were finalized, and why others crumbled, such as a near-miss for then-Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson. Chisholm was captivated."
Brunson, of course, has since gone on to become a fan favorite in New York. The six-foot-two-inch guard became a full-time starter with the Knicks after coming off the bench sporadically in Dallas.
He’s earned two, soon to be three, All-Star selections, and was named to the Second Team All-NBA in each of the past two seasons.
If Celtics traded for Jalen Brunson, they may have never traded for Derrick WHite
The failed trade likely took place in 2022, during Brunson’s final season with the Mavericks. Dallas clearly didn’t want to re-up on a new contract, so it makes sense that they would’ve shopped him before the trade deadline.
That same trade deadline, of course, is when Boston brought in Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs, sending Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, their 2022 first-round pick, and the right to swap picks and 2028 in exchange. A good trade for Boston, when it’s all said and done.
Though White’s been tremendous for the Celtics since coming aboard, it’s tough not to imagine what it would’ve been like if Brunson were here.
Would he have ever taken the leap to superstardom? Where would the Knicks be now without him? Would Boston still have won the 2024 NBA title?
The possibilities are truly endless.
Regardless, the reality we all live in has played out just fine. Having White on the Celtics for the past three and a half years has been a treat, with the Colorado native earning two All-Defensive selections in that time. Oh, and of course, winning a championship in 2024 was pretty nice.
Brunson and the Knicks don’t quite know about that, now do they?