Jaylen Brown trade destinations: Would the Celtics really move on from him?
Just a year after winning the 2024 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics are receiving calls on two key players.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the Celtics have gotten interest from other teams in forward/guard Jaylen Brown and guard Derrick White.
Trading Brown in particular would signal a real sea change for Boston as it stares down a 2025 season with superstar forward Jayson Tatum sidelined with an Achilles injury. The Celtics have already moved on from key veteran contributors like center/forward Kristaps Porziņģis and guard Jrue Holiday in recent days.
Could even a franchise cornerstone like Brown be next? It's no lock, of course, and it'd cost the team acquiring Brown a king's ransom. However, after the Luka Dončić trade, anything is possible. Let's break down some possible landing spots if Boston really does decide to move on from one of its best players.
Miami Heat
The Heat could form a package featuring forward Andrew Wiggins and substantial draft capital for Brown, who would give Miami a premium upgrade at the shooting forward spot. A nucleus of Brown, guard Tyler Herro and forward Bam Adebayo could do real damage in the Eastern Conference next season.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are coming, and the rest of the NBA needs to be on alert. Center Victor Wembanyama figures to contend for the league's top player honor sooner than later, and adding Brown to the starting lineup could get San Antonio to title contention faster than most paths available. This is an enticing fit for both sides.
Utah Jazz
Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge drafted Brown with the Celtics back in 2016, so it would make a lot of sense for him to have interest in a player he scouted and acquired. Utah needs marquee talent, and Brown could give the franchise a new cornerstone talent for the years to come.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have a top-10 pick in this year's draft, and adding a player of Brown's caliber could speed up Toronto's possible contention window quite a bit. It's been a while since the Raptors have scared anybody in the NBA, but adding Brown would make them a much more formidable team for the long haul.
Atlanta Hawks
Brown is a Marietta, Georgia, native, and playing for his home state Hawks is definitely a possibility. We're sure Atlanta would have to include forward Zaccharie Risacher in any trade package, but Brown joining this lineup gives us real confidence Atlanta could push for the NBA Finals next season. They'd be a tough team to beat.
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