Celtics trade rumor helps the Jaylen Brown trade make much more sense image
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) on the court before game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics are a decent team on paper at the moment, and as I'll continue to say about the organization, I fully expect them to win at a very high level.
All the Celtics have done in recent years is win at a very high level, and even after moving on from Jaylen Brown, I don't see a scenario where this team is just going to be bad. However, that trade really didn't make a whole lot of sense, unless there's truly a lot of hope that Paul George can get back to the player that we all know he can be.
Others have suggested the Celtics will do more after that trade, which would make a whole lot of sense if they decide to make a play for Trey Murphy.
Murphy has been brought up countless times in talks, though there are many questions about whether the New Orleans Pelicans would actually trade him. Regardless, it sounds like once LeBron James makes his decision, the Murphy talks could heat up, and the Celtics are an obvious suitor.
“A report from The Athletic on Monday that talks around a Trey Murphy trade “could resurface” certainly raises some hopes among followers of the NBA trade rumor mill, but the fact remains that Murphy is a tough nut to crack.
“If James winds up in Miami or Cleveland, the Warriors would be a clear potential partner for Murphy, which is likely why trade talks around him have been shelved for most of the month. The Celtics are the other obvious potential suitor, but the Hawks are likely out after bringing in Lu Dort,” Sean Deveney wrote.
The Celtics making a move for Murphy while keeping much of their current roster intact would arguably make them the best team in the Eastern Conference, and I think one can already suggest that Boston is that.
Murphy would help put this team over the top and, frankly, would be a perfect fit for a Celtics team that's looking to get better.
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