Examining Jaylen Brown For Kevin Durant Trade Idea That Elevates Celtics Now And Later
· Yahoo Sports
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According to NBA insider Marc Stein in his Monday column, there’s growing speculation that the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers all have an interest in trading for Celtics guard Jaylen Brown.
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If the Celtics are contemplating a deal involving Brown, it could be part of a larger plan to acquire Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo by sending Brown to a third team. The Rockets, Hawks or Trail Blazers could potentially serve as that third team. However, even if Boston doesn’t manage to secure Antetokounmpo, it may still look to trade Brown to one of these three franchises.
A trade with the Rockets could benefit the Celtics, helping Boston not just now but also in the future. The Celtics could get Kevin Durant in the trade with a handful of draft picks, and here is what a possible deal could look like.
Rockets Receive: Jaylen Brown
Celtics Receive: Kevin Durant, 2027 first-round pick (via Nets) and 2030 first-round pick
It’s going to be tough for the Rockets to let go of young players like forward Amen Thompson, who is only 23, and center Alperen Şengün, also 23. However, they might be more open to parting ways with Durant, especially since he will turn 38 this summer.
The Celtics may not have Durant for the long haul, but if he can provide them with two strong seasons before he turns 40, there’s a chance Boston could emerge as a legitimate NBA contender. Durant is locked into a $43 million contract for the 2026-27 season, with a $46 million player option for 2027-28. It's quite likely he’ll choose to opt in, considering that no team will probably offer him more money at the age of 39.
Boston would also acquire the Nets' 2027 first-round pick, as the Rockets hold the right to swap it with them. Given that Brooklyn is one of the weaker franchises in the NBA, this pick could very well land inside the top 10.
The Celtics could then begin reshaping their roster with the Nets' pick, adding Durant for a season or two alongside Jayson Tatum. Additionally, Boston would receive Houston's 2030 first-round pick, which could be quite valuable since it’s four seasons away — who knows how the Rockets will perform by then?
Boston managed to reshape its roster by using the Nets' picks to select Jaylen Brown in the 2016 draft and Jayson Tatum in the 2017 draft, and maybe it can do the same to build another contending roster.
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