The Portland Trail Blazers have had a longstanding interest in bringing Jaylen Brown to the Pacific Northwest. They may be the team most aggressively pursuing him this summer. The Boston Celtics need to test their desire to pull that off.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the NBA's original monarchy is demanding four first-round picks for the 2024 Finals MVP. The Trail Blazers can satisfy that request.
Their draft capital includes first-round pick swaps with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2028 and 2030. In 2029, they will receive the best and worst first-round pick between Boston, Milwaukee, and Portland. They also possess their first-round selections in 2031, 2032, and 2033.
Getting in on those pick swaps, with Brad Stevens having an additional four first-round picks at his disposal, would cushion the blow of trading Brown to some extent. However, the Celtics are trying to maximize their championship window with Jayson Tatum. The return for parting with a five-time All-Star needs to help that goal more concretely.
Donovan Clingan's inclusion is non-negotiable for the Celtics
At the moment, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that the Trail Blazers have yet to make Clingan or Toumani Camara available in a package for Brown.
Camara's an outstanding defender. He's a former All-Defensive Second Team selection. He also knocked down at least 37 percent of his three-point attempts in each of the last two seasons. That includes a 37 percent conversion rate on 7.2 attempts in the 2025-26 campaign.
Acquiring the 26-year-old from Belgium would help Boston's effort to make up for the loss of an All-NBA wing. However, that's also the team's strongest and deepest position on the depth chart. It's more important to nab Clingan in a deal with Portland.
The Celtics need to fortify the center position and find a partner to form a potent 1-2 punch with Neemias Queta. Clingan would resoundingly check that box.
Donovan Clingan has elevated his game significantly this season...
— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) March 20, 2026
World-class rim protection metrics. Towering presence with his 7'7 wingpan who snags 16% (!) of all teammate misses, helping win the possession game every night. True big man. pic.twitter.com/6OBB3I92bd
The former UConn star is among the best rim protectors in the Association. In each of his first two years in the league, he has ranked in the top five in blocks per game. He swatted 1.7 shots on average last season.
Beyond that, the seven-foot-two center has some impressive facilitating chops for his size and position. He dished out 2.1 assists and would be joining the team that boasted the second-highest offensive rating in the NBA in 2025-26.
Clingan even stretched his game beyond the arc. He knocked down 34.1 percent of the 3.2 3s he hoisted. That's an encouraging development that would be especially well-received in Boston.
Plus, he's a beast on the boards. The 22-year-old from Bristol, Connecticut, grabbed 11.6 per contest. That includes a league-leading 4.5 on offense.
The inclusion of either individual would mean the Celtics get less draft capital. However, that's well worth it, especially regarding the possibility of acquiring Clingan.
Who else would the Celtics get in a Jaylen Brown trade to Portland?
Getting a burgeoning center in a deal that includes former No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe is a scenario that might get Brad Stevens to go through with trading Brown.
Just as Boston is right to have confidence in helping this year's second-round pick, Dillon Mitchell, with his shot, the organization could do the same for Henderson and Sharpe. Their track record includes aiding Grant Williams, Jordan Walsh, Derrick White, and plenty of others in that part of their game.
Sharpe is an uber-athlete, who the Celtics' elite player development program could help turn into a defensive menace and an improved marksman.
Henderson launched 5.4 three-point attempts last season, converting on 35.2 percent. His stock bounced back nicely in his third year in the NBA. That includes averaging 15.0 points in the playoffs.
Clingan, Henderson, and Sharpe are high-upside talents who are 23 and under. In fact, the former two are just 22 years old.
What might the Celtics do after trading Jaylen Brown to the Trail Blazers?
After bringing in that talented young trio, Boston's encore could be a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Celtics have traded player exceptions [TPEs] to absorb Henderson and Clingan's contracts. Even after the Trail Blazers traded Jerami Grant in a deal for Ja Morant, the two sides could make the math work in a trade for Brown.
And if Boston preserves its $27 million TPE but uses two smaller ones on Henderson and Clingan, it could still shed $32.3 million in salary. Stevens could then put that larger traded player exception toward acquiring Trey Murphy III. The draft capital received from Portland would help the cause.
If this is the end of the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era, while it is a bet on upside, including with Murphy, it's likely among the Celtics' best potential paths forward.
Add us as a preferred source on Google