Celtics can't consider Jaylen Brown untouchable

Following Jayson Tatum's Achilles tendon injury, the Boston Celtics are facing a difficult summer. Brad Stevens will likely need to get the franchise under the second luxury tax apron. As such, Boston is expected to be active in the trade market.

Currently, any rumors involving the Celtics are centered around Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Both veterans were acquired in 2023 and helped lead the team to a championship last season. 

However, long-time NBA analyst Bill Simmons believes Stevens could go one step further by trading All-Star forward Jaylen Brown.

“I think I would qualify Jaylen Brown as much as I hate it, and I hope they don't trade him,” Simmons said via his "The Bill Simmons Show" podcast. “I don't think he's untouchable with the situation that team's in right now.”

Brown is entering the second year of his five-year $285 million contract. As currently constructed, the Celtics are facing a $500 million payroll next season, once luxury taxes are included. Therefore, trading Brown would solve a significant amount of the team's financial woes while also bringing back a healthy return on the trade market. 

With Tatum ruled out for the 2025-26 season, Brown is unquestionably Boston's best player. When he's locked in, he's an elite on-ball defender and ferocious interior scorer. However, there are genuine questions regarding his playmaking ability, with him turning the ball over almost as frequently as he generates assists.

If Stevens believes the Celtics can get a fair return on Brown, then he would be wise to explore the trade market. However, it's important to remember that Tatum will return from his current injury sooner or later. Boston's duo of Tatum and Brown is a proven commodity in the NBA.

So, unless Stevens genuinely believes trading Brown is in the team's best interests, it's doubtful that we'll see him leave this summer. Of course, every player has their price, and if a team is willing to pay Brown's, then so be it. After all, only Tatum is at an untouchable level, and even then, his exit couldn't be ruled out. 

Ultimately, the Celtics' summer will hinge on whether Stevens views Tatum's absence as a temporary setback or a chance to retool around his eventual return. Trading Brown would be a seismic shift for a franchise that just recently won a championship, but in today's NBA, where even Luka Doncic can get moved, there's no room for sentiment. 

So, while Brown is unlikely to be traded, don't be shocked if rumors surface in the coming months.