On the heirarchy of potential slabs of trade bait for the Celtics this offseason, it's pretty clear how things stack up. Kristaps Porzingis, with his mystery ailment, his inability to stay on the floor and his expiring contract at $30 million, would be Boston's pick to jettison to another team. Problem is, not many teams are interested in a big man who is often injured and has an expiring contract, unless the Celtics want to take back a bad contract off someone else's books.
The Celtics do not, in fact, want to do that.
Jrue Holiday, at age 34, would be the next guy on the list, and with $100 million over three years remaining on his deal, he, too, will not have a bustling market. But he's more tradeable than Porzingis.
After Holiday would be fellow guard Derrick White, who has drawn ample attention, too. At 30, with four years and $118 million on his deal, White is probably the Celtics' best chance to move some money and still get a decent return.
Unless, that is, the Celtics go to the top rung of the trade heirarchy: Jaylen Brown, the team's four-time All-Star. At age 28 and with four years and $235 million on his contract, Brown appears baked into the Celtics' future.
Right?
"They're not going out and beating the pavement to trade Jaylen, no," said one Eastern Conference executive. "But if you think they are not listening, if you think they wouldn't trade (Brown), you have not been paying attention to what Brad Stevens has done in that office. If the offer is right, they would have to."
Indeed, Stevens has developed a reputation for being proactive and seeing transactions he should make a beat before others. The trade for White, which was criticized at the time, is one. Sending away Marcus Smart--considered a heart-and-soul guy for Boston--just before his career wilted is another.
It was a bold move. With Jayson Tatum out because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, Stevens may have to be similarly bold.
Feb 6, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens on the court before the start of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens on the court before the start of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden.
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
"No one thought (Stevens) was going to trade Smart," the GM said. "But he saw what was coming. And I think he sees what is coming now--Tatum is going to miss a year, when he plays again, it'll be 2026, and the team will be different, the league will be different. He can't just put Tatum back on the floor and think they're a championship team again."
The Celtics are not actively pressing for a trade of Brown. But teams that are loaded with assets and looking to move up in the league's ranks--whether lottery teams like Brooklyn and San Antonio, or established teams like the Rockets or Thunder--could make mega-offers for Brown.
With Boston steeped in uncertainty, Stevens would be duty-bound to weigh those offers.