The Oklahoma City Thunder have had nothing short of a historical season from a statistical point of view. Having broken the record for the highest point differential in league history, the Thunder are truly a special team. While also featuring a generational talent in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's MVP, the team also boasts multiple All-Defensive Team selections and another All-Star in Jalen Williams.
With all the things going in their favor, the Thunder still find themselves against the ropes in the NBA Finals. After a 116-107 loss in Game 3, OKC is now facing a 2-1 deficit against the Indiana Pacers, an unfavorable position for any team to be in.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics saw a dismal end to their season after Jayson Tatum suffered an ACL injury and had to be carried off the floor. Although the team went on to win the following game, owing to the heroics of Jaylen Brown, the series against the New York Knicks came to a swift end, possibly signaling the end of the current iteration of the Celtics as well.
The offseason has been marked by a lot of doubts and mystery surrounding the organization. With cap space issues topping their list of problems, the C's have been backed up against a corner and forced to make some difficult decisions.
One of these decisions has involved letting go of their key players. With Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday emerging as likely candidates, some speculation has also seen Brown mentioned in potential trade rumors.
Boston's need to shed salaries is justified. However, only a handful of teams in the league can absorb the cap hit of Brown's contract. In a highly complicated trade proposal, we take a look at the possibility of the Celtics offloading Brown's contract by trading him to the Thunder.
Proposed Trade Details
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics Receive: Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Kenrich Williams, Nikola Topic, 2025 No. 24 Pick, 2028 first-round pick (DAL), 2029 first-round pick (DEN, Lottery Pick)
With a potential deal bringing one of the best two-way players in the league over to their side, we take a look at how this trade impacts both teams.
Jaylen Brown Completes OKC's "Big Four"
A decision from the Boston Celtics to part with Jaylen Brown would only come from a place of desperation. Brown is truly a special talent when it comes to two-way ability.
While boasting the ability to create shots for himself, the Celtics guard is a lockdown defender as well. And on the Thunder, he would help them form one of the most unreal "Big Four" lineups in the NBA.
Paired with Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams in the backcourt, the Thunder would potentially create a matchup nightmare with this three-guard rotation. With Chet Holmgren gradually developing into a star-caliber big man as well, OKC would have an immensely potent lineup capable of blitzing an opposing team.
Brown's averages of 22.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists are likely to get a bigger boost in a system that sees more attention being drawn to other players. Meanwhile, his presence on the perimeter, with Williams, and bench players like Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, would see the Thunder's defensive rating skyrocket.
The upcoming season will probably be a quiet one for Boston. With Tatum expected to be sidelined for a large part of it, the Celtics are likely to focus on retooling for the next season rather than rebuilding.
This trade proposal gives Boston the necessary assets to do so. With young players and draft capital coming over to them, the Celtics will enjoy some flexibility with retooling.
Aaron Wiggins is a great addition in this regard. The Thunder's bench player shone brightly in Game 2, scoring 18 points and outscoring some of the big names on the Pacers' roster. At only 26 years old, he is barely entering his prime, but the guard still possesses enough potential to blossom on a competitive team.
Another intriguing addition to the side would be Nikola Topic. The Thunder are likely to see Topic join the side next season, as he makes his recovery from an ACL tear.
The hype around the young Serbian is high, owing to his playmaking abilities at 6'6". Having averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in the Adriatic League with Mega Basket, the Celtics could benefit from having such a versatile player on their roster after Tatum's return.
Along with the two youngsters, Boston would also see the arrival of Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Joe, two immensely capable veterans. Williams and Joe have both showcased the ability to play defense while knocking down shots from beyond the arc. Williams averaged 38.6% from three-point range last season, while Joe knocked down a solid 41.2% from distance.
The blend of veteran talent and youth potential will be highly beneficial for the Celtics. However, a key asset that cannot be overlooked is the draft capital in this trade.
The precious No. 24 pick in this year's draft has a lot of potential for a team looking to add young talent. With considerations being made for the 2029 first-round lottery pick as well, Boston may find itself on a solid timeline for restructuring to become a title-contender again.
Do the Thunder Need Brown?
This trade is completely based on Boston's need to shed salary, along with the Thunder's free cap space to absorb such a contract. However, the upcoming offseason could dictate everything for this deal.
Realistically, OKC is still in a position to win the Finals, even without Brown. The lack of a genuine star other than Gilgeous-Alexander hasn't necessarily been a burden on this Thunder team, which is driven by its role players. In many ways, the addition of Brown could be counterproductive to their development as well.
Another key factor is that the Thunder will not have the same cap space once the season ends. With a need to retain many key rotation players, OKC may be dishing out some big contracts, eating away at their precious salary cap, thus preventing them from absorbing a massive contract like Brown's.
The trade certainly does favor Boston, which will need the assets to retool for next season. But with Brown in mind, the Celtics would be better off just holding out for a season in this context.
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