5 Unpopular trades the Celtics should explore this summer
By Tyler Watts
4. Trade Jaylen Brown to dodge 2nd tax apron
The Celtics have over $200 million committed in salaries for next season as Jaylen Brown’s new five-year $286.3 million contract kicks in. The 27-year-old gets a $17.5 million pay increase, and the Celtics only have ten players under contract if both Jrue Holiday and Oshae Brissett accept their player options.
The second tax apron is set to be $190 million next season. Teams spending over that face significant financial restrictions. Every franchise would prefer to dodge it, but Boston would need to make massive changes to their roster.
Brown is their second-leading scorer and has helped the franchise reach the conference finals five times in the last seven years. Knock him if you wish, but the three-time All-Star is one of the best wings in the NBA. Brown has been in trade rumors before, but Boston would be losing a massive piece.
The problem with trading Jaylen Brown is the return. If the Celtics deal for a star upgrade, how much does that improve their team? Boston could trade him for pieces to dip below the second tax apron, but it makes their team worse. This move would be unpopular and unlikely but may be necessary if the Celtics’ ownership is unwilling to pay the significant tax penalties that come with being over the second apron.