Should the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown? With news breaking on the much-anticipated Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, there are sure to be ripple effects throughout the NBA. One of which is what happens with the Boston Celtics, who offered Jaylen Brown as the main piece of their trade package to the Bucks. Boston showed a willingness to move off the All-NBA talent to improve, and trading him away is a must, as it retools them back into a title contender.
Celtics Roster Needs An Upgrade
As currently constructed, Boston has some pieces to be competitive in the Eastern Conference. Brown and Jayson Tatum form the best perimeter duo in the league. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are high-level role players. Beyond that, the team has clear holes on the bench and in the frontcourt. The once-deep championship roster was broken up to avoid luxury tax penalties and now lacks the talent to hang with other contenders.
Boston management has publicly stated that the team isn’t good enough as currently constructed. Critical flaws exposed the team during their early postseason exit. Brown, as a top talent in the league, could command the kind of return that can fix these problems fast with another star or multiple upper-echelon pieces.
Tension Between Brown And The Organization
Brown is coming off the best season of his career, carrying the Celtics while Tatum recovered from his Achilles injury. His all-NBA status makes him extension-eligible again for a max salary. He is already under contract for another three years, so would Boston be willing to commit more money to him right now?
The Celtics may also be at a point of no return to trade Brown, now that his name has been floated in trade rumors again. He may not be willing to go back to a secondary role alongside Tatum. They have shown they can win a championship playing together, but their skills overlap more than complement each other. If they don’t want to extend his deal and prefer to retool around Tatum, moving Brown could prevent a potential problem of discontent later.
Trust In Brad Stevens
The Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens, has developed a track record of elite roster building. Through shrewd trades, he consistently got back depth and value that turned Boston into the best team in the league two seasons ago. At their best, the Celtics were versatile, with the right mix of defense, playmaking, and shooting that made them a nightmare to deal with. Limited free agents in positions of need led Boston to the trade market for Antetokounmpo and will lead them to explore more options.
Trading Brown is a franchise-altering move that an organization should not make without getting enough value in return. He is one of the best players in the league, and Boston could be fine just keeping him with Tatum and waiting to find help. Brown would be the biggest trade asset in the league if made available, and the possible offers could be too enticing. Stevens is the right person in charge to navigate this and would be expected to land the best deal.
The Celtics Should Trade Jaylen Brown
Boston hopes to get back to championship contention as soon as possible. They understand the limitations of their roster and what is needed to get back in the title picture. The failed attempt at an Antetokounmpo trade showed how aggressive they were willing to be, and should encourage them to pursue more options. The NBA has changed since The C’s championship. The Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs realized great success from controlling the paint with team length and size up front. To keep up, the Celtics will need to fill the void for a big man and improve the second unit. Trading Brown might be the only way to do that.
