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It seems the Celtics have already nailed their most important offseason decision

It appears that the Celtics are not looking to break up their star tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. That's their most pragmatic path forward.
Mar 6, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) watch the Jumbotron during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Mar 6, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) watch the Jumbotron during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

It doesn't appear like the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown are in for a divorce this summer. A day before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Sam Amick of The Athletic shared, "There's no signs that they're putting Jaylen out there at all."

In that conversation with Bobby Manning of CLNS Media, the veteran NBA insider also noted that the Celtics "have gone to great lengths" to make sure that their relationship with the former Finals MVP is in good standing.

After the franchise squandered a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, there wasn't just the discourse stemming from Brown's comments on Twitch. Along with the former Finals MVP saying this was his favorite season, there was Tracy McGrady, a mentor of his, voicing that Boston's star wing has frustrations that lie "deeply within the organization."

McGrady quickly followed up on that, clarifying that his comments were purely speculative and did not come from speaking with the five-time All-Star. Either way, Brown, on Twitch, has publicly expressed his love for Boston and his desire to remain there long term. That meshes with what Amick is hearing from Brown's camp.

The Celtics' most practical path forward is with Jaylen Brown

Maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo will go to Miami and make Boston regret not trading for him when it had the chance. If he and Jayson Tatum joined forces, the duo leading the franchise to Banner 19 is a realistic scenario. However, what the Celtics have now is proof of concept. They know that their star tandem can guide them to the NBA summit.

One can't predict the future or dismiss the possibility that a blockbuster deal for a two-time league MVP could work out better than remaining loyal to Brown. However, Boston is operating from a place of stability and would be exchanging that for volatility.

A trade for Antetokounmpo, who carries a concerning injury history, could blow up in the Celtics' face before he ever shares the floor with Tatum in the playoffs. Not to mention, as impressive as the latter looked in his return from an Achilles tear, it would mean that suddenly, they're built around two stars with significant questions on the health front.

There's also the fact that Antetokounmpo's in line for a lucrative extension. His leverage in trade talks comes from his ability to opt out of his current contract next summer. Given his durability concerns, that's another gamble with considerable risk attached.

And while some of the forecasting online about Boston's future can be quite dramatic, does one really believe that an elite organization, which won 56 games despite not having Tatum for most of the season, can't figure out how to build another title team around him and Brown?

That doesn't seem like a fair or accurate assessment from this vantage point. And since the Celtics don't have Doctor Strange to show them every timeline with and without making a trade for Antetokounmpo, they must make a pragmatic assessment based on the information available.

Sure, Boston could be quietly working to pull off a deal for the 10-time All-Star. The last thing the franchise would want is to sour its relationship with Brown and fail to acquire Antetokounmpo. However, Amick's intel, that there are no signs the Celtics are on the precipice of separating their two cornerstones, suggests they also believe their best path forward is with Tatum and Brown leading the way.

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