Could the Boston Celtics actually trade Jaylen Brown to help slash their bloated payroll? Some around the NBA seem to think it is possible.
It has been another stellar season for the Celtics. They enter their game on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs with a 54-19 record. It is the second-best in the Eastern Conference and third overall. While they won’t pass or match their 64-win total from last season, they are on a path to win 60-plus games for a second straight season. They have not done that since the dynasty teams with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Yet, the Celtics front office has spent absurd sums of money to win a championship last season and try to repeat this spring. Unfortunately, the bill is expected to come due soon. With a new owner taking over this year, their projected $500 payroll bill (including taxes) for next season isn’t realistic. The club must get under the second tax apron because not only does it come with high costs, but it also has built-in roster limitations for teams in it for more than two years.
There have been rumblings recently that players like Jrue Holliday and Kristaps Porzingis could be on the trade block this summer. But on Friday, NBA insider Jake Fischer addressed rumblings that the Boston Celtics could take a bolder step to slash payroll by trading Jaylen Brown.
Boston Celtics not expected to consider Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum trades
The idea of breaking up Tatum and Brown seems absurd. But for a team that wants to remain a contender but slash a lot of payroll, it is certainly an option. The franchise is on the hook to the pair of All-Stars for $598 million for the rest of the decade. It is a massive sum. Moving Brown and the $50 million or more he’ll make annually would allow them to hold on to most of the roster. While also being able to add a solid piece.
However, while Fischer claims there is some “wishful thinking” around the NBA about a sweepstakes this summer or next, no one in the known expects it to actually be considered.
“No one is forecasting a Luka Dončić-sized change of roster course from the Celtics any time soon,” he began by writing. “Several league figures with knowledge of Boston’s thinking have remained adamant about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continuing to be the unquestioned on-court pillars of this franchise.
“Despite the wishful thinking from some teams out there that Brown would somehow be made available this summer. And if the Celtics can go back-to-back during the forthcoming playoff tournament, it figures to be even more of a moot point.”
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