Trail Blazers Draw a Red Line Around Deni Avdija in Any Jaylen Brown Talks

The Portland Trail Blazers want Jaylen Brown. But they don’t want him badly enough to give up Deni Avdija.

According to Brian Robb of MassLive, the Blazers have made it clear to the Boston Celtics that Avdija is off the table in any trade discussions for the former Finals MVP. That’s a pretty firm stance for a team that reportedly has serious interest in Brown.

Robb also reported that rookie center Donovan Clingan would be tough for Boston to pry away. The Blazers don’t have much depth behind him, especially with Robert Williams heading toward free agency. Trading Clingan for Brown just creates another hole, which isn’t exactly a winning formula.

So what does that leave? A lot of salary matching and some interesting young pieces.

Jerami Grant’s $34.2 million contract is the obvious starting point for any offer that works financially. Guys like Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe could be in play, especially with Damian Lillard back in the fold. Toumani Camara is on a team-friendly deal that Boston would probably ask about, too.

But the real centerpiece of any Blazers offer? Draft picks. Portland controls the Bucks’ first-round picks from 2028 through 2030 plus owns plenty of its own future first-round capital. That’s the kind of asset pool that could actually get Boston’s attention.

Why Avdija matters more than you think

The Blazers view Avdija as a core piece. That’s not just stubbornness. The 23-year-old forward averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season, and his versatility on both ends fits Portland’s timeline. He’s under contract on a reasonable deal through 2028. Moving him for Brown, even a player of Brown’s caliber, would signal a major philosophical shift.

And Brown is coming off arguably his best season — 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He carried Boston to a 56-26 record despite Jayson Tatum missing significant time. But then the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers in the first round, and suddenly trade rumors started swirling.

The Blazers were linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo before shifting focus to Brown. That tells you Portland is hunting a star. But they’re not willing to strip the roster down to nothing to get one.

If Boston does decide to shop Brown, Portland looks like one of the few teams with the assets to put together a legitimate offer. It just won’t include Avdija. That’s the line, and the Blazers don’t sound like they’re planning to cross it.