What the Celtics' reported asking price for Jaylen Brown says about their plans

Jaylen Brown’s future with the Boston Celtics has never been as uncertain as it seems to be in the present. Brown was reportedly the centerpiece in the Celtics’ offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, before the Milwaukee Bucks elected to trade their star to the Miami Heat instead.

Since then, the buzz surrounding Brown hasn’t subsided. All week multiple reports have indicated that Boston has been in active trade talks with teams who are interested in the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.

ESPN Insider Shams Charania shared what he’s been hearing about the Celtics’ asking price for the 10-year veteran on Friday’s edition of Get Up.

“My understanding is that in some cases the Celtics have asked for at least four first-round picks for Jaylen Brown,” Charania explained. “Where does that put him as far as his value? This is a Boston team that’s been contending in the Eastern Conference and their potential ask for some teams is a package of picks and players. How have they reimagined this roster moving forward? Their finances, their viability as a contender in the Eastern Conference. I do think as of right now, time will tell which side will bring the emergence to this matter this offseason.”

The Celtics seem keyed in on a proper return for Jaylen Brown in a hypothetical trade

This reported price tag that the Cs have put on JB tells us that they’re not just looking to move him for nothing. This isn’t going to be a reactionary move, or something they’re doing because they feel that they have to.

Brown will only be traded if Brad Stevens feels that the move seriously improves the team or if it sets them up for success down the line.

"Jaylen Brown's a big part of us," Stevens told reporters at the Auerbach Center Tuesday. "I'm never going to predict the future, but like every indication, everything that I think about is with -- over the past few years, has been building around those guys, right? And so, obviously, you never know, but at the same time, I think the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he's always been. He's been amazing. He's been an amazing teammate, [a] great person to be around."

Based on what’s been reported thus far, it sounds like Stevens was telling the truth. Brown certainly seems to be valued by the organization, yet they’re uncertain of what’s going to happen with him this summer.

Both The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski and MassLive’s Brian Robb reported that the Celtics’ asking price when the Minnesota Timberwolves came calling for Brown was Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and a similar haul of picks to the one Minnesota ultimately sent to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball.

We also heard yesterday from Clutchpoints’ Brett Siegel that Brown hasn’t approached the Celtics with a trade request. At this point, his future seems to be entirely in the front office’s hands -- a rare positive in an otherwise ugly saga.

Brown has been a staple during one of the most successful eras in franchise history. He’s been willing to sacrifice individual shine for the betterment of the team. He just put together the best season of his career while facing the most responsibility of his career.

If this is simply a case of Boston testing the waters and gauging potential interest, then so be it. If they’re set on moving on from Brown and are willing to take the eventual best offer then it could be a flashpoint for the organization. Not only would they be shunning a beloved figure in the city of Boston, but they’d potentially be doing so without filling the void left by his absence.

The reporting this past week has been so diversified that it’s tough to tell which way the front office is taking it. Based on this latest bit from Shams, it seems more like the former. Hopefully that’s the truth.

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