While speaking with Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog, Jaylen Brown revealed that he is still weighing his options regarding surgery on the partially torn meniscus that he finished the postseason with. If he ends up getting surgery and the start of next season is affected, the Boston Celtics should take drastic measures regarding their offseason approach.
Jayson Tatum is already slated to miss almost all of next year, so if the Celtics end up losing Brown for even a small part of the beginning of next season, focusing on youth could be a smart idea. Whether that means getting young players in trades or adding more draft picks to their cabinet, playing youngsters would help their future.
But that will all depend on Brown’s decision.
What did Jaylen Brown say about surgery?
Brown told Dalzell that he plans on consulting doctors and the Celtics organization before having surgery on his meniscus.
“l got a lot of doctors I gotta get evaluated with — see the potential for surgery versus no surgery, wait to speak to the [Celtics] organization,” Brown said. “For now, it’s just rest and recovery. I’m taking a step back from a long season. Mentally, it was a lot of stuff going on.”
According to ColumbiaDoctors.org, the average recovery time for surgery on a partially torn meniscus is four to six weeks so, in theory, Brown shouldn’t miss time next year.
But that all depends on the degree of his tear and when he decides to have surgery.
What should Celtics do if Jaylen Brown misses time?
The Celtics already have two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft: No. 28 and No. 32. That will give them two solid players who they can try to mold into quality rotation pieces.
But if Brown is out to start the year, then leaning into the youth movement would be the best course of action. Playing the rookies, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and others extra minutes would help them improve on the fly and be ready to contribute once Tatum and Brown return to the floor.T
Trading Jaylen Brown should be off the table
Barring a ridiculous trade offer, the Celtics should not entertain a move that ships out Brown. He’s been a core part of their franchise for almost a decade now, and the combination of him and Tatum is clearly good enough to compete for championships.
Giving up on that because of a couple of injuries—no matter how severe—is not good business.
Once Tatum returns, the Celtics should still have him, Brown, and Derrick White. That’s a title contender right there.