The Boston Celtics are reportedly taking calls from teams on the availability of star guard Jaylen Brown.
Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP and four-time NBA All-Star, is attracting significant interest around the league, according to ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, as Boston looks to shed salaries.
The Celtics traded Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons and Kristaps Porzingis for Georges Niang, following an early exit from the playoffs and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear, which has ruled him out long term.
Now Boston, the NBA’s most successful franchise, are open to trading away the best player available on their roster in order to make improvements for Tatum’s return, potentially in 2026.
Here are some potential buyers for Boston star Brown.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are blessed with a wealth of both draft capital and young talent, which they can use to put together an enticing package for Brown.
They have the number two pick in the draft, which the Celtics could use to take one of the NBA Draft’s young stars (most likely Dylan Harper out of Rutgers) and develop them ready for Tatum’s return.
On the Spurs roster potentially available to trade are 2024-25 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, who exceeded expectations last season to put up 14.7 points per game, and productive guard Devin Vassell among other useful role players.
Combine those assets with future draft capital, and the Spurs could make themselves instant contenders with a big three of Brown, young phenom Victor Wembanyama and All-Star De’Aaron Fox.
Atlanta Hawks
Brown, a Georgia native, could be traded to his home state Atlanta Hawks as the Eastern Conference side look to make a push into title contention.
Boston have exercised their willingness to deal with the Hawks, sending Porzingis to Atlanta in a salary-shedding move.
The Hawks have fallen into the Play-In in the last two seasons after an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2021, and will need another star to pair with Trae Young should they hope to commence another deep playoff run.
Atlanta are $30 million below the league’s luxury tax now, and are showing willingness to make another big splash following the Porzingis trade according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line/Bleacher Report.
If they can add Brown to their current cast of Young, All-Defensive Team guard Dyson Daniels, and up-and-coming forward Jalen Johnson, they can make waves in a weaker Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia 76ers
Possessing the number three pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers can create a package for Boston to offload some salary for the 2026-27 season.
By trading the number three pick and Paul George to the Celtics, Philly can allow Boston to dump some salary with George’s expiring contract, while adding a second star on a similar timeline to 31-year-old 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid.
Meanwhile, the Celtics can draft a young star at number three to pair with Tatum, and make a run at the championship in 2027.
The Sixers may be asked to add young star Tyrese Maxey to the deal to acquire a player of the calibre of Brown, meaning Philadelphia would have to weigh up future successes against maximising what is left of the injury-prone Embiid’s prime.
But expect the 76ers to be in the running as the draft draws ever closer.