For the second time in the past four years, the Boston Celtics reportedly included Jaylen Brown in an offseason trade. And for the second time in the past four years, the trade didn’t go through.
That could create a bit of an awkward situation between Brown and the organization that drafted him. After being involved in trade rumors for the second time in his career — and after a career-best season — Brown might not be too pleased with returning to the Celtics ahead of next season.
In an attempt to head off any frustration, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens called Brown a “big part of us” after the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, per ESPN.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said. “I’m never going to predict the future. Every indication, everything I think about, over the last few years, has been building around those guys. You never know. But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate and a great person to be around.”
Stevens added that he’s been in touch with Brown and Brown’s agent during the offseason and that the team has been “as proactive and up-front with that as possible.” Stevens declined to get into specifics about the nature of those conversations, however.
Brown, who signed a five-year, $285 million extension with the team in 2023, is coming off arguably his best year in the NBA. The 29-year-old averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game with Jayson Tatum sidelined for a large chunk of the season.
Thanks to Brown’s efforts, the Celtics surprisingly finished with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference in a season where many expected the team to take a significant step back. Brown’s performance earned him MVP votes at the end of the season.
Despite that, Brown was rumored to be the centerpiece in a deal for former Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks opted to instead take an offer from the Miami Heat, presumably sending Brown back to the Celtics for another season.
It’s not the first time Brown’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors. Back in 2022, Brown was rumored to be the centerpiece in a possible deal for Kevin Durant. That deal also fell through, and Brown returned to Boston, signed his massive extension and led the team to a title during the 2023-24 NBA season.
During his decade with the Celtics, Brown — who was selected by the team with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft — developed into one of the best players in the NBA. Over his past six seasons, Brown has made four All-Star teams, received two second-team All-NBA nods and earned MVP votes. He’s put his name among the elite superstars in the game.
But that hasn’t stopped the Celtics from putting Brown on the block. While the relationship between Brown and the team might still be fine, especially after Stevens’ comments, it’s tough to imagine Brown will continue to feel that way if his name keeps coming up every time the Celtics are looking to improve.
Read the full article here