NBA Trade Idea Gives Jaylen Brown Fresh Start on Rising NBA Squad

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Thomas, Noah Clowney, the No. 8 pick in the 2025 draft, a 2027 first-round pick and a top-5 protected 2031 first-round pick.

"For the Celtics, of course, this makes the team significantly worse in the short term. Cam Thomas probably wouldn't even finish in Boston whatever contract he'd sign to make this happen. Noah Clowney's at least a flier for the frontcourt," Bailey wrote. "What this is really about, again, is the savings. 

"Brown is set to make nearly $65 million in 2028-29. Getting out of that deal, picking up multiple firsts and getting out of the dreaded second-apron territory are valuable things. Of course, some other organization could very easily beat this package in terms of players and picks (without the help with the apron). And that might force Brooklyn to up the ante a bit with more draft capital or young talent."

Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Celtics in the regular season. The 2024 Finals MVP put up 22.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in the 2025 postseason. 

The 28-year-old Brown will make $53.1 million next season. 

"A primary purpose of this move would be to push Boston's salary under the second-apron line, which would make it possible for them to aggregate outgoing salaries in other deals," Bailey wrote. "The Nets are a prime candidate for such a move, since they can realistically get to over $50 million in cap space this summer and absorb much of Jaylen Brown's $53.1 million salary into that space.

"Of course, it helps to pick up multiple first-round picks, too. And getting Brown in his prime would be worth that (though the Brooklyn Nets might insist on more protections). He'd be a building block-level talent for a Nets team that could be desperate to have one after failing to secure a top-four pick in the lottery. And his fit alongside Cameron Johnson's outside shooting and Nicolas Claxton's rim running isn't hard to imagine."

Brown has spent his entire career with the Celtics. He has career averages of 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The swingman also made four All-Star teams.