The Boston Celtics aren't just shopping Jaylen Brown—they're setting the bar astronomically high. If any team wants to pry the All-Star swingman away from Beantown, they'd better come correct with a treasure chest of draft capital.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Celtics have communicated to interested parties that they're looking for a haul of at least four first-round picks. That's a steep price, even for a player who averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season.
Brown's name has been swirling in trade rumors ever since reports surfaced that Boston included him in a proposed blockbuster for Giannis Antetokounmpo. That deal fell through when the Miami Heat swooped in with an offer the Bucks couldn't refuse, but the damage was done. As ESPN's Brian Windhorst bluntly put it, "He's going to get traded."
Windhorst noted that Celtics president Brad Stevens has been careful with his words—praising Brown but never outright denying a trade is possible. "He never said that he wasn't trading him, which he obviously could have done," Windhorst said.
Charania broke down the tricky math behind any potential deal: "My understanding is in some cases the Celtics have asked teams for at least four first-round picks. The part that makes it tricky here is Jaylen Brown's got three years left on his deal at a super max clip. Which team meets that valuation so far that the Celtics have set in some regard with four first-round picks?"
Brown's contract—nearly $57.1 million next season and roughly $183 million over the next three years—makes matching salary a puzzle. But his production and age (still in his prime) make him a tantalizing target. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports pointed to the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets as frontrunners, with Portland also sniffing around.
The Celtics' front office has been tight-lipped, but Stevens' non-commitment speaks volumes. Meanwhile, Brown himself hasn't shied away from drama—he recently called out ESPN for what he deemed unethical coverage.
Wherever Brown lands, it'll shake up the Eastern Conference. But unless a team is willing to mortgage its future with four first-round picks, he might be wearing green for at least a little longer.
