3 blockbuster trade offers for Celtics’ Jaylen Brown

Pelicans get: Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Luka Garza, 2028 first-round pick

Celtics get: Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III

In terms of maximizing Jaylen Brown’s value in a single trade by acquiring a proven All-Star, and another who could be on the cusp of earning his first nod, this proposed offer is most likely as good as it gets for Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. In Zion Williamson, the Celtics get a proven star whose injuries derailed his 2024-25 campaign, but he bounced back nicely last season. Williamson averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 62 regular-season games for the Pelicans.

If the Pelicans are worried about not being able to re-sign Zion in 2028, when his five-year, $197.2 million contract expires, this is their opportunity to replace him with Brown without worrying about losing him down the road. The fact that Brown has an extra year attached to his current deal matters, as the final year of Jaylen’s contract is fully guaranteed, with no team or player option, for the 2028-29 season.

Brown would also give the Pelicans’ new head coach, Jamhal Mosley, a new wrinkle to his starting lineup. Led by a score-first starting point guard like Dejounte Murray, Jaylen is a better fit for a more fluid approach, and Sam Hauser gives the Pelicans another 3-point threat next to Saddiq Bey.

Luka Garza adds muscle to the frontcourt and a future first-round pick to sweeten the deal if Mosley and the Pelicans want to take on a new look that could expedite the growth of second-year players, such as Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears.

2. The Nuggets’ title-contending push for Jaylen Brown

Nuggets get: Jaylen Brown

Celtics get: Peyton Watson, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, 2028 first-round pick

Similar to how the Celtics saw their championship chase end in the first round of the playoffs, the Nuggets found out how far the goalpost had moved the hard way in 2026. After Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs ascended to heights quicker than the rest of the Western Conference anticipated, the Timberwolves made a drastic move in trading for LaMelo Ball.

Adding Jaylen Brown to play off of Nikola Jokic would be an immediate threat to the defending Western Conference champion Spurs. It would move them into title contention, while the Celtics would add Peyton Watson and Christian Braun, two promising players with high ceilings to surround Jayson Tatum.

After watching Brown lead a roster with less to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, Tatum should be able to do the same, or more, with the addition of the three forwards from this proposed deal with the Nuggets, especially when you consider another season in Payton Pritchard, Hugo Gonzalez, and Baylor Scheierman’s respective developments.

3. The Blazers’ best Jaylen Brown offer

Blazers get: Jaylen Brown + Sam Hauser

Celtics get: Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson

As the Blazers gear up for Damian Lillard’s first game in red and black since his return from missing the entire 2025-26 season, adding Jaylen Brown to the mix rapidly changes their trajectory in the Western Conference. Alongside Deni Avdija, Brown gives the Blazers a second All-Star, and the timing couldn’t be any better with Lillard’s return.

The familiarity between Jrue Holiday and Brown speaks for itself, as the 2024 champion’s backcourt defeated the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and Luka Doncic and the Mavericks in the Finals. Brown was named MVP of both series. At the same time, the Celtics get a potential All-Star in Shaedon Sharpe, whose breakout campaign led to him averaging 20.8 points in 2025-26.

Scoot Henderson also still has room to grow in the backcourt. Whether he starts or reprises an Anfernee Simons kind of role for the Celtics next season, it gives head coach Joe Mazzulla plenty to work with, including rising star Shaedon Sharpe, as Tatum and the Celtics look to compete against the defending champion Knicks and the rest of the Eastern Conference.

The Blazers are interested in trading for Brown, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

“The Portland Trail Blazers have expressed trade interest in (Aaron) Gordon should they not land Jaylen Brown, their preferred target, HoopsHype has learned,” Scotto reported.

While Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon is the Blazers’ plan B, landing Brown in a trade with the Celtics reportedly remains a priority this offseason.