Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Jaylen Brown Trade Idea Sends Celtics Star to Nets

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 7:00 PM ET

The Boston Celtics will have the most expensive roster in the NBA next season if they don't make any trades this offseason.

Some believe the Celtics don't want to have an expensive payroll because Jayson Tatum could miss the entire 2025-26 season recovering from his right Achilles tendon tear.

If Boston decides to break up its core this offseason, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Thomas (sign and trade), Noah Clowney, the No. 8 pick in 2025, a 2027 first-round pick (via Philadelphia) and a 2032 first-round pick.

"Trading Brown feels wildly unlikely, but trading him into cap space could put Boston within striking distance of ducking the new collective bargaining agreement's dreaded aprons," Bailey wrote. "It does land them multiple draft picks that could be used down the road or included in win-now trades."

Brown, who has spent his entire career with the Celtics, won the 2024 NBA Finals MVP Award. He will make $53.1 million next season.

A four-time All-Star, Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Boston this season while shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from beyond the arc and 76.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in this year's conference semifinals in six games, while the Nets missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

"On the Nets' end, fans probably wouldn't be stoked to see three firsts headed out the door for a potentially cumbersome contract, but there isn't a surefire All-Star on the roster," Bailey wrote. "And Brown in this situation, as the clear Alpha scorer, would almost certainly be a sure-fire All-Star for years to come.

"Brooklyn probably wouldn't be a title contender after this deal, but the East will be down in 2025-26, and a core with Brown, Cameron Johnson and Nicolas Claxton would be competitive."

The 28-year-old Brown has career averages of 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: