Brad Stevens didn’t shut the door on Jaylen Brown trade talks during his NBA Draft press conference. That silence spoke louder than any denial would have. And after watching the Knicks win a title and the Heat land Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics have real questions to answer about their roster construction.
Brown hasn’t asked out — at least not publicly — but the league is operating like he’s available. The emergence of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs has already forced a handful of Western Conference teams into big swings. Adding an All-NBA wing like Brown could turn a fringe contender into a threat overnight. Here are three offers that make sense for both sides.
Zion for Brown: The Pelicans Roll the Dice
Pelicans get: Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Luka Garza, 2028 first-round pick
Celtics get: Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy
This is probably the highest-upside package Stevens could get. Zion Williamson is a proven star when healthy, which is admittedly a gamble. He played 62 games last season and averaged 21 points, 5.7 boards and a steal. That’s not peak Zion, but it’s close enough to remind everyone what he can do.
The Pelicans have a decision to make on Zion’s max contract, which runs through 2028. Moving him for Brown gives them a player with an extra guaranteed year on his deal and a cleaner fit next to Dejounte Murray. Sam Hauser gives New Orleans another floor spacer alongside Saddiq Bey, and Luka Garza adds frontcourt depth. The first-round pick is the sweetener that gets it done.
For Boston, Trey Murphy is the sleeper here. He’s on the verge of his first All-Star nod and gives the Celtics a two-way wing who can play off Jayson Tatum. It’s a deal built on potential and injury risk, but the ceiling is real.
Denver Goes All In on Brown
Nuggets get: Jaylen Brown
Celtics get: Peyton Watson, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, 2028 first-round pick
Nikola Jokic needs help. The Nuggets found out the hard way that the West got a lot tougher after the Timberwolves traded for LaMelo Ball and the Spurs jumped ahead of schedule. Adding Brown gives Denver a second star who can create his own shot and defend multiple positions. That’s a lineup that could actually challenge San Antonio.
The Celtics walk away with three forwards who fit different roles. Peyton Watson is a long, disruptive defender with room to grow offensively. Christian Braun is already a playoff-tested rotation player. Cam Johnson spaces the floor and gives Tatum a reliable catch-and-shoot option. Boston also gets a future first. It’s not a splashy return, but it’s deep and flexible.
And honestly, if Tatum couldn’t carry a team that won 60 games without Brown, the Celtics have bigger problems. But adding three solid rotation pieces and letting Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman develop might be the smarter long play.
Portland Pushes Its Chips In
Blazers get: Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser
Celtics get: Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson
Damian Lillard is coming back after missing all of last season. The Blazers need a co-star to make the math work in the West. Brown gives them that. Pairing him with Deni Avdija gives Portland two wings who can defend and score. And the Jrue Holiday connection is real — that backcourt already beat the Pacers and Mavericks in the 2024 playoffs, with Brown taking home both series MVP awards.
The Celtics get two young guards with real upside. Shaedon Sharpe averaged 20.8 points last season and looks like a future All-Star. Scoot Henderson hasn’t popped yet but still has time to develop into a high-level starter or a sixth man in the Anfernee Simons mold. Jerami Grant is a known quantity: 20 points per game, plus defense, expiring contract. That’s a useful trade chip if Boston wants to flip him later.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Blazers have told teams that Brown is their preferred target, with Aaron Gordon as the fallback. Portland is serious about making a run while Lillard is still playing at a high level. Whether Boston is serious about dealing Brown is the question that’ll define their offseason.
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