There are plenty of questions surrounding the Boston Celtics as they head into the offseason earlier than anticipated. Their embarrassing first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers has effectively left no player on the roster safe -- likely except for Jayson Tatum.
Jaylen Brown spent the last week or so pouring water on any rumors that he’d want to leave town after 10 seasons, but the possibility is still there. Now, to be clear, it doesn’t feel likely that the Celtics are going to trade their longest-tenured player, just more possible than in other years.
Though, last summer, there were apparently some brief discussions with the Atlanta Hawks on a potential deal, according to NBA Insider Chris Mannix.
“Last offseason, the Celtics and Hawks did have a brief conversation about Jaylen Brown,” Mannix said during an NBA on NBC segment. “It didn’t really go anywhere. The Hawks were leery about the size of Brown’s contract, which at the time was, I believe, the richest contract in NBA history. And they weren’t really in a position to go all in. The Celtics were not looking to give Jaylen Brown away, either. So, it didn’t go anywhere.”
It simply wasn’t the right time to move on from Brown. He and the Cs had put together an impressive 61-win season, which unfortunately came to a close when they fell to the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.
Moving off of JB could’ve been an easy way to cut the necessary costs and dive below the second apron, but he isn’t the type of player who Boston would be smart to trade in a salary dump.
Could Atlanta's lingering interest net the Celtics Giannis?
If you’re going to trade Jaylen, it’d better be for the right return -- a player who legitimately gives the team a better chance to compete for a title, not a lateral move.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks in serious doubt, it’s starting to feel like a rare opportunity to do so could be staring the Celtics right in the face, and the previously-interested Hawks could help them get a deal done.
Especially now that Atlanta, who rode a hot second half of the season to a sixth-place finish, has taken a step back towards contention, but isn’t quite at the level of other Eastern Conference contenders.
“But [Atlanta is] a team, given what happened this season, that I could see getting interested in Jaylen Brown,” Mannix added.
Many national NBA talking heads have speculated on a potential three-time trade that would net Boston Antetokounmpo, Atlanta Brown, and the Bucks plenty of draft assets from both teams to replenish their future.
Now, whether or not the Hawks would want to try and prioritize Giannis for themselves is another story.
One thing that Mannix did make clear, though, is that other teams around the association could force the Celtics to consider a shake-up.
“Again, the Miamis, the Houstons, Golden State — teams that are theoretically going to be in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo — could turn around and make a run at Jaylen Brown. So, I think that situation bears watching.”
A Jaylen Brown trade, outside of a few scenarios, makes little sense for the Celtics
As this long summer plays out, I promise you, I’m going to maintain the same stance on a potential Jaylen Brown trade. The only way it makes sense is if it nets them Giannis, the front office truly feels like the relationship has run its course, or if he publicly requests a trade.
Aside from those three scenarios, it’s tough to envision a situation where it benefits Boston.
Brown just put together an All-NBA level season and willed the team to 56 wins in what was considered to be a gap year. He won NBA Finals MVP two years ago. He’s worked to make a difference in the city beyond basketball.
Jaylen Brown is a Celtic.
The team's playoff collapse, while dissappointing, doesn't tell the entire story, nor does it fall entirely on Brown. He wasn't perfect against the 76ers, sure. But, there is plenty of blame to go around. The fringes of the Celtics' roster proved to not be good enough, and may be the smartest area for the front office to improve, rather than doing something drastic.
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