Boston Celtics Could Shock NBA With Jaylen Brown, Derrick White Trades Amid Draft Shakeup | June 12

The Boston Celtics are staring down a pivotal offseason, and while there’s no full-blown fire sale happening in Beantown, whispers of possible roster changes are starting to echo louder. The front office still believes in the core, but with the salary cap squeezing tighter and other teams sniffing around, names like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are, for the first time in a while, being floated in trade conversations.

Now, to be clear, Boston isn’t actively trying to ship either guy out. This is not a panic move. But according to league insiders, the Celtics are listening. If the right offer comes along, one that aligns with both competitive goals and financial realities, they’re not slamming the phone down.

Why Jaylen Brown and Derrick White Might B On the Table

Here’s the deal. Boston’s financial books are looking intense. With Jayson Tatum recovering from Achilles surgery and about to start his supermax contract, the Celtics are staring at a future where nearly 70% of their salary cap is tied up in just two players, Tatum and Brown. Brown alone is set to earn north of $53 million per year. And Derrick White? He’s due around $28 million next season.

Add that up, and the team is on a crash course with the luxury tax wall. The Celtics’ front office has some tough math to do, and it’s not just about dollars; it’s about flexibility. If things don’t change, building around the stars gets harder, not easier.

Now, guys like Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7 million) and Sam Hauser ($10 million) are slightly more obvious trade candidates, mostly due to injuries and roster fit. But rival teams aren’t just asking about the fringe players, they want to know if Brown or White might be gettable. And according to Shams Charania, while Boston “would prefer not to” move either of them, they’re keeping an open mind. If the return is strong, think quality talent or long-term cap relief, the Celtics would not say no.

Eyeing the 2025 NBA Draft -A Youth Movement?

Boston holds the 28th and 32nd picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, which may not sound exciting on paper, but in a cap-crunched world, cheap, young talent is gold. The team is reportedly doing its homework on point guards and might even try to trade up to grab someone who can make an immediate impact.

And here’s where things get interesting: if Jrue Holiday ends up getting moved (his name’s in the mix too), there’s a real hole to fill in the backcourt. A rookie on a low-cost deal could bring fresh energy and ease some of the financial strain at the same time.

Boston could look to package one or both draft picks along with a name like Hauser or Porzingis to move up the draft board or bring in a solid vet on a friendlier contract. Either way, expect the Celtics to be active around draft time. They’re not just trying to find benchwarmers, they’re looking for contributors.

What Celtics Fans Should Brace For

This offseason’s shaping up to be one of those “hold your breath and refresh Twitter every five minutes” kind of summers. The Celtics are trying to walk the tightrope: stay in the title conversation while also setting themselves up for long-term success. And that’s not easy when you’ve got massive contracts, an injured superstar, and a fan base that’s used to winning.

Moves involving Porzingis, Hauser, or even Holiday seem more likely right now, but the fact that Brown and White aren’t off-limits is telling. The front office knows it can’t afford to stand still.

Jayson Tatum is still the face of the franchise, but building a deep, balanced roster around him means making some bold, and maybe unpopular, calls. Draft picks, trade packages, contract swaps… everything’s on the table.

So yeah, the Celtics you saw last season? There’s a decent chance they’ll look pretty different come opening night. But if it means staying out of cap hell and putting together a team that can hang with the league’s best in 2025-26, then maybe, just maybe, it’s all worth it.