
Can Jaylen Brown lead the Boston Celtics without Jayson Tatum next year?
Can Jaylen Brown lead the Boston Celtics without Jayson Tatum next year?
With Jayson Tatum expected to be out for an extended period of time next season for the Boston Celtics, there are many trains of thoughts about how the roster will look moving forward. Outside of the consistent trade speculation surrounding several names on the roster, there is plenty of conversation about superstar Jaylen Brown and if he can be the team's top offensive weapon for next year.
Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP averaged over 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists last season, while he battled through a knee injury late in the season. While Tatum was named to the All-NBA First Team, Brown failed to get a selection this season due to injuries, but has shown the skillset to carry the team when called upon. No matter what the Celtics do in the offseason, trading away Brown does not seem to make sense if Boston wants to remain a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Recently, 'The Big 3 NBA Podcast' on the CLNS Media Network discussed what the expectations could be for Brown next season, and if he truly could be the one who carries the team on his back.
Watch the video above to hear the discussion surrounding Jaylen Brown and his status with the Celtics going into next season. There has been plenty of early rumors around the team about potential trades of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, but no matter what direction the team opts to go in, there's little doubt that they should rely on Brown as their leader next year.
If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network: https://ytubl.ink/3Ffk
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kristaps Porzingis Trade Report Surfaces After Major Celtics News
Kristaps Porzingis Trade Report Surfaces After Major Celtics News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Boston Celtics lost an important member of their personnel on Monday, as it was reported that Austin Ainge will join his dad, ex-Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge, with the Utah Jazz (via ESPN's Shams Charania). More than that, Austin will become their President of Basketball Operations. Advertisement However, that could potentially make it easier for the Celtics and Jazz to become trade partners this offseason. The Celtics want to save money, and the Jazz are one of the few teams that can help them do that with their flexibility. MassLive's Brian Robb outlined how the Jazz could help the Celtics accomplish their offseason goals. Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8)© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Robb floated Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday as players they could trade to the Jazz, seeing as Utah had interest in both before the Celtics acquired them. "League sources tell MassLive that the Jazz showed interest in acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday via trade back in 2023 before both players landed ultimately landed in Boston," Robb wrote. "Both players are available again on the trade market this year as the Celtics weigh offseason options to retool their roster and reduce salary to get under the second apron after Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles." Robb added, "Whether Holiday or Porzingis interest the Jazz front office now a couple of years later will be a fascinating question, but the Jazz could be a big wildcard in the NBA offseason if they start trying to push back towards playoff contention." Advertisement The Jazz have multiple expiring contracts - John Collins, Collin Sexton, John Collins - and multiple non-guaranteed and partially guaranteed contracts - KJ Martin, Johnny Juzang, Svi Mykhailiuk, Jaden Springer - that could interest the Celtics. It will all depend on what the Jazz want this offseason. Related: NBA Legend Urges Celtics to Make Kristaps Porzingis Decision Related: Celtics' Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis Decision Receives Update on Tuesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Finals: The incredible Paul George trades that turned the Pacers and Thunder into title contenders
As it turns out, all you needed to do to reach the 2025 NBA Finals was trade Paul George. Remarkably, this year's Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers and Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder were both built from assets each team received in exchange for dealing George. How the Pacers built from trading Paul George Indiana selected George with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He made four All-Star teams for the Pacers, leading them to a pair of conference finals appearances, before informing the franchise in 2017 that he was planning to sign elsewhere — preferably with the Los Angeles Lakers — in free agency. Advertisement Not wanting to lose George for nothing, Indiana dealt him to the Thunder on July 6, 2017, in exchange for a 25-year-old Victor Oladipo and a 21-year-old Domantas Sabonis. Both Oladipo and Sabonis developed into All-Stars under Indiana's watch, though as a tandem they peaked in a pair of first-round playoff exits. (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration) By 2020, Oladipo had begun to experience the right knee problems that would ultimately end his career, so the Pacers flipped him to the Houston Rockets as part of the four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. In return, Indiana received Caris LeVert and a pair of second-round draft picks. One of those second-rounders became the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, which the Pacers packaged, along with the No. 29 overall pick in the same draft, for a 2024 first-round draft pick from ... the Thunder. That selection was one of two first-round draft picks that Indiana dealt to the Toronto Raptors in January 2024 in exchange for Pascal Siakam, this year's Eastern Conference finals MVP. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Pacers flipped LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2022 second-round draft pick, a 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2027 second-round draft pick. The first two of those picks became Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard, a pair of rotation players for this year's conference champions. Sabonis played for the Pacers until February 2022, when at the deadline they dealt him and some ancillary assets to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson. Haliburton, of course, has developed into an All-NBA point guard for the Pacers and their best player. Finally, Indiana flipped Hield to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2024 trade deadline for a pair of second-round draft picks — the first of which they traded again, turning that selection into Johnny Furphy. Advertisement In one way or another, the Pacers turned George into Haliburton, Siakam, Nembhard, Sheppard and Furphy. That is roughly a third of Indiana's entire roster, half of its rotation and both of its leaders. How the Thunder built from trading Paul George George played two seasons for the Thunder — both first-round playoff exits. In July 2019, though, the Los Angeles Clippers came calling with an offer Oklahoma City could not refuse. The Clippers were trying to sign Kawhi Leonard in free agency, but the two-time Finals MVP wanted a star partner in L.A., so the organization went about the business of trying to pry George from the Thunder. Advertisement OKC executive Sam Presti squeezed the Clippers for everything he could, acquiring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and the rights to a handful of first-round draft picks in exchange for George. As if recouping Gilgeous-Alexander, this year's MVP, were not enough, one of those picks — the No. 12 selection in 2022 — became Jalen Williams, who has developed into an All-Star for Oklahoma City. Much of the rest of the package from the Clippers is tied up in this year's draft, as the Thunder own pick Nos. 15, 24 and 44 in June, all from assets they received in the George deal. Oklahoma City can use those selections to replenish whomever they lose from their rising salary costs over the next couple of years. Between Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and whoever is still to come, the Thunder have built from George a budding dynasty. First, though, they must get through what they traded to acquire George from Indiana.


New York Post
39 minutes ago
- New York Post
Carl Banks rips WFAN's Greg Giannotti for Karl-Anthony Towns ‘loser' comment: ‘Ignorant s–t'
Giants legend Carl Banks called out WFAN host Greg Giannotti for his take on Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns following the weekend's season-ending Game 6 loss to the Pacers to end their season in the Eastern Conference finals. Giannotti called Towns a 'loser' and described him as 'soft' during Monday's 'Boomer and Gio,' which the station clipped and added a graphic that labeled Towns as 'LOSER KAT!' The clip caught the attention of Banks, who had appeared regularly on a different WFAN program before ending the relationship in 2023, and the former Giants linebacker was not amused by Giannotti's take. 'This is genuinely pathetic. Calling a man you've never met a 'loser' says far more about you than it ever could about him,' Banks posted on X in response. 'I've known Kat and his family since he was a kid—there's absolutely nothing about him that resembles a loser. Try being a better human instead of broadcasting this ignorant s–t.' Banks' opinion seemingly split users on the social media platform, with some appreciating his opinion while others didn't seem to have an issue with the way Giannotti described Towns during the segment of the show. Retired Giants linebacker Carl Banks attends a game between the St. John's Red Storm and the New Mexico Lobos at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST 'He's making $50 million a year. And at the core, he's a loser. That is their biggest problem. The guy is a loser. He's a losing player. He complains. He's soft,' Giannotti said about Towns. 'He shows you flashes where he's the best player on the court. Not enough. He doesn't play defense. He bitches and moans. He is, up until this point in his career, a loser, who is making $50 million, who is going to be a logjam as far as them trying to get to the next level. 'He is getting the point, now, as one of the most frustrating players I have ever watched in the uniform of a team that I root for because I know how good he can be. And it's just so damn annoying watching him not realize his full potential.' Towns' performance on the court has garnered plenty of attention in the wake of the Knicks' elimination from the playoffs and he's sure to be a topic of conversation on the airwaves for a little bit in New York. Giannotti did respond to Banks' post as well in a seemingly somewhat sarcastic fashion. 'Great to hear from you, killer. You still owe me 500 bucks from an appearance I did for you in 2010 in Pittsburgh,' the WFAN host wrote back on X. Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) scores against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final, Thursday, May 29, 2025. AP Banks had previously gotten into a heated debate with Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata over Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2023 that ended up with Licata abruptly ending the call with the Giants great. Banks resigned from his weekly spot on the WFAN midday show and later told rival station, ESPN New York, that the situation helped him realize that the station 'was not a platform I want to be on.'