Jaylen Brown Liked a Post Saying Boston Should Trade Him. That’s Not Nothing.

Jaylen Brown liked a comment on Instagram that basically said the Celtics should ship him out to a city that actually wants him. And in case you thought that was an accident or a slip of the thumb, consider the timing.

This comes after weeks of the Celtics dangling Brown in trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, talks that ultimately went nowhere when Giannis landed in Miami. Brown has been active on social media all offseason, posting videos that frame himself as the real star of the team, not Jayson Tatum. He liked that comment on Monday. It said the Celtics should trade him to a place that respects him. He did not unlike it.

What Brown’s Like Actually Means

It’s not a trade demand. It’s not a press release. But for a guy who already felt slighted by Boston’s front office, it’s about as loud as a quiet move can get. The Celtics have reportedly been asking for a massive return in any Brown trade, but so far no team has met their price. That could change if Brown keeps signaling his unhappiness.

Brown just finished the best season of his career. With Tatum out for most of the year, he carried Boston to the second-best record in the East and even got some MVP buzz. But then the playoffs happened. The Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the Sixers in the first round. That collapse made it clear the roster needed shaking up, and Boston’s first move was offering Brown up for Giannis.

The Giannis Situation Changed Everything

The Celtics were aggressive. They put Brown in a package for Antetokounmpo. But Milwaukee went with a deal from Miami instead, and suddenly Brown was left standing there knowing his own team was ready to move on without him. That kind of thing stings, especially for a guy who just put up an All-NBA season.

So now we’re here. Brown liking a comment that calls out Boston’s lack of respect for him. The team hasn’t commented on it. They probably won’t. But the message is out there regardless.

It’s still early in the offseason. The Celtics could smooth things over. Or they could keep shopping him. But that like is a data point, and it’s not a subtle one.