Бостон Сэлтикс багийн удирдлага Жэйлен Брауныг Янис Адетокунботой солих наймааг эрэлхийлсэн нь тоглогчийн ирээдүйн талаарх олны яриаг өрнүүлэх гол шалтгаан болжээ. Багийн ерөнхийлөгч Брэд Стивенс Брауныг шинэ улирлын нээлтийн бүрэлдэхүүнд багтах эсэхийг тодорхой хэлээгүй нь нөхцөл байдлыг улам бүрхэгдүүлж байна.
Торонто Рэпторс болон Детройт Пистонс багууд Брауныг сонирхож байгаа бөгөөд шинжээчид боломжит наймааны хувилбаруудыг хэлэлцэж байна. Торонто Рэпторс Брэндон Ингрэм, Коллин Мюррей-Бойлс, Грэди Дик болон драфтын эрхүүдийг санал болгох боломжтой бол Детройт Пистонс Данкан Робинсон, Рон Холланд II, Карис Леверт болон ирээдүйн драфтын эрхүүдийг багтаасан багцыг илгээх магадлалтай юм.
Шинжээчдийн үзэж буйгаар Торонто Рэпторсын санал болгож буй хувилбар нь Бостон Сэлтиксийн хувьд илүү ашигтай байж болох ч багийн удирдлага Браунтай харилцаагаа хэвийн үргэлжлүүлэх боломжтой бол наймаа хийх шаардлагагүй гэж үзэж байна. Гэсэн хэдий ч Бостон Сэлтикс өөрийн од тоглогчоо ийнхүү наймааны цонхоор идэвхтэй судалсан нь тоглогчийн сэтгэл зүй болон багийн дотоод уур амьсгалд сөргөөр нөлөөлж болзошгүй гэж мэргэжилтнүүд дүгнэжээ.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
Jaylen Brown’s future has been one of the most widely discussed topics in the NBA world since the Boston Celtics offered him for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though the Celtics’ pursuit of Antetokounmpo fell short, the noise around Brown hasn’t stopped. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens could have quieted it after the first round of the draft, but wouldn’t say definitively that Brown will be on Boston’s opening-night roster.
With Brown’s situation still up in the air, we put together a roundtable with Celtics writer Jay King plus two writers covering teams reportedly interested in Brown, Toronto Raptors writer Eric Koreen and Detroit Pistons writer Hunter Patterson. Together, they examined the trade market for Brown and Boston’s potential dilemma moving forward with him.
What would a sufficient trade package look like for Jaylen Brown from each team?
Eric Koreen: I’m not sure if either team would do this, but that’s what potentially makes it a fair deal, right? How about Brown to the Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Collin Murray-Boyles, Gradey Dick and 2027, 2029 and 2031 first-round picks, the latter of which would be top-four protected. That is probably one pick too many from the Raptors’ point of view.
The Celtics get Ingram, who can help replace Brown’s scoring, and Murray-Boyles, as close to a blue-chip prospect as the Raptors can offer. The Raptors get an All-NBA player who is ready to help maximize Scottie Barnes’ prime.
Is Jaylen Brown ready to leave Boston?
Zenab Keita and Esfandiar Baraheni
Hunter Patterson: I’d expect the Pistons to include Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland II, Caris LeVert plus their 2028, 2030 and 2032 first-round picks to entice the Celtics. The word “sufficient” here will be relative to Detroit’s roster construction, so keep that in mind. There’d likely be a salary discrepancy between Brown and the Pistons he’d be traded for, considering he’s due to make $57.1 million next season.
Besides the finances, Holland would be the player with the most upside Detroit could offer. Holland will enter next season as a 21-year-old. He averaged more points, rebounds, assists and steals on a higher 3-point percentage as an NBA sophomore compared to his rookie season.
If Holland’s offensive production can catch up to his defensive effectiveness, Boston would receive a player who could blossom into a two-way talent. He’d be the centerpiece of a trade that would help the Celtics space the floor with Robinson and give Boston a scorer off the bench in LeVert.
Jay King: Other teams to reportedly show interest include the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers. Interestingly, given that it could mean a short-term step back, there’s a belief around the NBA that the Celtics would be open to the right package headlined by young players and picks. Such a trade would give Boston more future flexibility, but at the expense of a second-team All-NBA performer coming off a career season.
One unknown piece right now is Brown’s mindset after the Celtics offered him for Antetokounmpo and continued to explore his trade market afterward. At the very least, it should be an interesting relationship dynamic for Boston’s front office to figure out moving forward if the team doesn’t reach a Brown trade after all of this noise.
Which package would be most beneficial for the Celtics?
Koreen: The Raptors’ deal is better. Ingram is not everyone’s cup of tea, but if healthy — a big if — he can at least replace some of Brown’s scoring volume. Plus, his length is a plus defensively, even if he falls asleep off the ball.
But really, Murray-Boyles is the difference. At times last year, he looked like a surefire future All-Defense player. He was up for the moment in the playoffs, too, becoming essential as the Raptors pushed the Cavaliers to seven games. To get him in the second year of a rookie deal would be huge for Boston. The Raptors could absolutely balk at giving him up at all, or at least cut down on the picks they offer if the Celtics insisted on him.
Patterson: The Pistons have the lesser offer here, and it wouldn’t shock me if the other teams interested in Brown have a more attractive offer than Detroit.
As much interest as Detroit might have in Brown, it doesn’t seem as though it has enough to lure Boston into that deal. Holland has potential, but he’d be a harder sell when Toronto can offer a package centered around a two-time All-Star and proven 20-point-per-game scorer in Ingram.
Murray-Boyles sweetens the deal and made an even bigger contribution than Holland during the postseason.
King: Among the two offers you guys put together, I would strongly prefer the Raptors’ version. At 20, Murray-Boyles averaged 14.4 points per game on 65.6 percent shooting during the playoffs while providing rugged and versatile defense. I don’t know if he will ever become a quality 3-point shooter, but he looks ready to do everything else for a long time to come. He would be a huge pickup for the Celtics, though such a trade wouldn’t necessarily help them contend next season, barring subsequent moves.
It’s probably worth noting that, as long as their relationship with Brown is salvageable, the Celtics should feel no desperation to trade him. They won 56 games with Jayson Tatum injured for most of last season and have everyone important under contract next season. If they can use the mid-level exception to shore up their frontcourt, they should be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference again next season, with room for growth if one of their young guys like Hugo González takes a leap.
Which team would be the best fit for Brown to continue competing for NBA titles?
Koreen: It would be easier to answer this question after the offseason. However, Cade Cunningham is an offensive generator unlike anyone the Raptors have. Mixing and matching supporting pieces around Cunningham and Brown would be fairly easy, given both players’ varied skills.
Scottie Barnes is an ascendant star, and, if the playoffs were any indication, he is capable of more than he has shown in any individual regular season. But he is not a system unto himself the way Cunningham is, and the Raptors have a messy cap picture, even if they move Ingram. Making the move after this one would be difficult, making Detroit the choice.
Patterson: The Pistons because they’re a player with Brown’s scoring acumen away from being serious title contenders. Detroit has a culture built on defensive tenacity, which Brown brings to the game.
And late in games, opponents would have to pick their poison between Cunningham and Brown. The double-teams they’d both draw could create constant advantages for their teammates. I see Brown being what gets the Pistons over the hump and the best landing spot for him if he decides against the Celtics.
King: Out of Toronto and Detroit, it would be the Pistons. They have already proven themselves as an elite regular-season team and need someone like Brown to help spice up their offense for the playoffs. With more shot creation around Cunningham, Detroit would become a real threat to win a championship. Plus, the Pistons wouldn’t have too much to worry about regarding Brown’s fit. Playing alongside Cunningham, an oversized creator, would be similar to life with Tatum. And the Celtics have won enough with that partnership to wonder why they seem so open to ending it.
Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets would also give Brown a chance to compete for another championship. I’m not sure any other team reportedly interested in him would.
How beneficial would a change of scenery be for Brown’s career?
Koreen: I roll my eyes at the Celtics’ talk of banners and all that noise, but it’s hard to deny that spending most or all of your career with that franchise is good for your career. That might be especially the case now: If Brown decided to forgo some personal desires — I’m talking about perception here, not necessarily reality — to make things work with Jayson Tatum, those two could go down with Bill Russell and Bob Cousy and Larry Bird and Kevin McHale as the all-time Celtics duos.
In the NBA, there’s not much cooler than that.
Patterson: It’d be in Brown’s best interest to stay with the Celtics. I see Boston being right back in the conversation for title contention if it retools around Brown and Tatum.
Brown was vocal about how much he enjoyed being the No. 1 scoring option this season. But if he were to be traded to the Pistons, for example, he still likely wouldn’t be the “guy” on the team since Detroit has Cunningham.
Ten years down the line, if this is the fork in the road for Brown’s career, something tells me he’d have more success staying with the Celtics.
King: That all depends on what he wants from the rest of his career, but I would personally prefer to stick with the Celtics. Brown, who could already be lined up to have his number retired in Boston, would have opportunities to continue building on his legacy with the franchise. That could mean ceding some touches and shot attempts to Tatum, but that duo has always made it work and won plenty of games while doing it.
Still, it’s easy for me to say I would want to stay in Boston and continue lifting my jersey into the rafters. I’m not the one whose boss tried to move me after the most productive season of my career. It would be understandable if Brown feels disrespected after seeing the Celtics explore his market so freely this summer, especially after all he did to buoy the franchise after Tatum’s injury and several key departures last offseason.
Will Brown ultimately end up being traded? If so, where? If not, why?
Koreen: I think he will. As Jay can attest, Brown’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors before, and the Celtics have kept him and made things work. This time around just seems different. Brown has accomplished more in the league and has helped the Celtics hang a banner in TD Garden, winning NBA Finals MVP in the process. If you’re not all in on a player by that point, I would think the relationship with Brown, who is certainly determined and headstrong, would be tougher to repair than after previous talks.
I’ll predict he goes to Portland for a trade package that is highlighted by Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson and multiple first-round picks, but lots of teams can make compelling offers. That would give Portland Brown, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Ja Morant and Donovan Clingan. Sure!
King: Though all the noise does seem much different than it has in the past, as Eric pointed out, I still think the odds favor Boston holding onto Brown. The Celtics don’t need to trade him with three seasons left on his contract if nobody reaches their high asking price. But if they do bring Brown back, they will need to repair whatever they’ve broken in their relationship with the five-time All-Star.
Patterson: It seems like his name has already been dangled in trade talks too publicly to reconcile the relationship between Brown and Boston. Brown strikes me as a prideful person, so I don’t imagine him being too enthused about hearing his name in trade rumors. While it probably won’t be in the best interest of his career, I could see Brown asking out if he hasn’t already.
