Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line recently reported on the prospect of the Detroit Pistons making a run at Jaylen Brown. It would require a sign-and-trade, sending Jalen Duren to the Boston Celtics. There's only one way Brad Stevens can go through with that.
If that's the first domino to fall before Boston makes another significant addition, like Trey Murphy III, this becomes an intriguing prospect. That doesn't mean the Celtics would be better off for it, or that they should go through with it, but there's merit to that makeover.
The new-look starting lineup would feature Derrick White, Murphy, Jayson Tatum, and Duren. The fifth spot could go to Payton Pritchard. However, tools like a $27.7 million traded player exception [TPE] -- if it isn't used to absorb Murphy's $27 million contract -- and the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, valued at $15 million, could go toward acquiring a new starter in the backcourt.
Perhaps that's a pathway that compels Stevens. At his media availability after Round 1 of this week's NBA Draft, he again pointed to the need to add size. Couple that with his end-of-season press conference, where he emphasized the importance of putting more pressure on the rim, and one can understand why the organization might go down this road.
Of these two potential pickups, Duren would do the heavy lifting in accomplishing those two declarations. However, Murphy, while best known for his shooting prowess, threw down 103 dunks this season. That ranked 21st in the NBA, per Screwball.com.
Should the Celtics trade for Jalen Duren?
The cost is Jaylen Brown. So, without a noteworthy move made in conjunction with this, the answer should be no.
The Pistons' bruising big is coming off a poor showing in the playoffs. Sometimes, one walks away from that with skepticism about an individual's value in a postseason setting. That wasn't the case here. It seemed more like a case of growing pains for a 22-year-old center.
And while it was certainly a sour note for his fourth season to end on, this was a breakout year for the former 13th overall pick. His offensive game evolved. Duren became a more lethal pick-and-roll finisher who also showed a soft touch around the rim.
He generated 19.5 points per game, easily a career-high. He paired that with 10.5 rebounds per contest, including 3.8 on offense. He also averaged 2.0 assists and nearly 1.0 blocks.
Duren earned his All-NBA Third Team selection. There was even a case for him joining Brown on the Second Team.
His combination of age and upside is why NBA insider Chris Haynes reports that Detroit is not moving its starting center and is strictly focused on agreeing to terms on an extension with him. While taken at face value, a chance to acquire Brown could be an exception to this stance.
Detroit Pistons are conveying that Jalen Duren will not be moved and are solely focused on coming to terms on an agreement to keep their All-Star center, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/OyLeQ9sPZZ
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 26, 2026
Paying a premium at the pivot generally isn't the best allocation of cap space. However, even if the Pistons pay more to extend Duren than they want, it's a better course of action than most alternatives. Going to Boston on a lucrative deal would also work for his new organization. The reason is that the team has the tools to add another new member to the core of its roster. Derrick White turns 32 in July, but as far as navigating this restrictive collective bargaining agreement, the Celtics could keep their new group together for years.
As Haynes reported, the Pistons might have no interest in parting with Duren. And some fans would hate to see him come off a disappointing postseason and become the centerpiece of what Boston receives for Jaylen Brown. However, if there's a second significant domino to fall, one can see why the Celtics go in this direction.
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