New Report on Potential Blockbuster Celtics-Spurs Trade

“The team I’d watch the closest with Jaylen Brown is probably the Spurs," Mannix said. Sure, I think (the Spurs would) love to make a run at Giannis, but do the Bucks ask for Stephon Castle? Like, is that on their wish list?"

If Castle and/or the No. 2 overall pick make up part of the asking price for either Durant or Antetokounmpo, San Antonio will be weary about making a deal happen. But while Brown comes as a cheaper alternative in initial dealings, he's atop the list of most expensive assets in the years following.

In July 2023, Brown signed the then-richest contract in NBA history with a five-year, $285 million deal set to keep him in Boston through the 2028-29 season — a figure that's since been passed by Jayson Tatum, who signed a five-year $314 million deal a year later.

If the Spurs were to inherit Brown's contract, it would only get richer over time, with the forward set to make $64 million annually by the final year of the deal. And the Spurs, who are still on the hook to extend De'Aaron Fox and give Victor Wembanyama his first non-rookie-level contract, would land in a similar financial situation that Boston is currently in.

Brown would add immense value to San Antonio as a superstar forward, but his numbers have regressed since he signed the deal — including last season being his worst since 2019-20 — and that's before he'd be forced to take a backseat to Wembanyama.

So, yes. The Spurs could make a deal for Brown. They can afford it.

That doesn't mean they will.