The Boston Celtics are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 4-6. There’s no doubt that the team needs to figure things out soon, and perhaps they will change up their roster to get on the right track.
It has recently been reported that the Philadelphia 76ers are interested in moving on from Ben Simmons to acquire Jaylen Brown. While it is conceivable that Ben Simmons would be a good fit with Jayson Tatum, there are better options for the Boston Celtics in a potential Jaylen Brown trade.
With all that being said, we’ve compiled a list of 3 stars that could potentially be acquired in a Jaylen Brown trade. All of these players are difference-makers, and perhaps the Celtics will be better off if they were to go after one of them.
3. Brandon Ingram
Boston Celtics Receive: Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Jaylen Brown, Romeo Langford, and 2022 first-round pick
The New Orleans Pelicans are at the bottom of the Western Conference, and that doesn’t seem likely to change until Zion Williamson gets back. If the Boston Celtics would like to make a trade for a player that would fill the playmaking void on their roster, Brandon Ingram could be that player.
Jaylen Brown and Brandon Ingram are players that are at a similar level, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense for the Pelicans to move Ingram unless they get good value in return. In this scenario, the Celtics send out Brandon Ingram along with Romeo Langford and a late first to try and pry Ingram from the Pelicans’ hands.
Jaylen Brown would fit seamlessly into the SF position for the Pelicans, and he’d provide better perimeter defense and similar scoring to Brandon Ingram. That being said, there’s definitely a playmaking gap between the two wings. Romeo Langford is a solid wing on the defensive end, and he’d provide the Pelicans with a much-needed perimeter stopper. The draft pick would be the sweetener.
The Boston Celtics would get a versatile forward in Brandon Ingram, who is proficient off the ball and is a good playmaker. It’s clear that Ingram’s offensive game is very well-rounded, and he would be able to provide a similar level of scoring to Jaylen Brown if he were to go to the Celtics, but also be able to set up his teammates and play as a point forward. Ingram would free up Jayson Tatum to be able to focus on the scoring department, and a Tatum and Ingram duo would certainly be dangerous.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns
Boston Celtics Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, 2022 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick
This trade was featured in one of our articles about the best potential trade packages for Karl-Anthony Towns. On the Minnesota Timberwolves end, this trade package from the Celtics that’s built around Jaylen Brown could potentially be one of their best options if they were to trade Towns.
Jaylen Brown would certainly be able to replicate some of the scoring that Karl-Anthony Towns provides for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he’s averaging a career-high 25.6 PPG this season. The Timberwolves would also get a young center in Robert Williams who can immediately provide them with a solid player in that position. The draft compensation would provide the Timberwolves with extra assets to either draft prospects with or move in a future trade.
The Boston Celtics would have a great duo if they were to pair Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is a player who can shoot at an extremely high level, and the spacing he’d provide at the center position would help Jayson Tatum have an easier time getting to the rim, and that could in turn aid Tatum in not settling for tough perimeter shots. There’s no doubt that the Celtics would have a great duo to build on in the present and in the future.
1. Damian Lillard
Boston Celtics Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick For Damian Lillard
This Damian Lillard trade has been featured in a previous article detailing the reasons a Jaylen Brown-Damian Lillard trade would make sense. Damian Lillard hasn’t been playing well this season, but it is possible that he’d do better on a team where he wouldn’t have to carry the offensive load as he does in Portland.
The deal featured here involves Jaylen Brown being moved as a centerpiece. Perhaps Jaylen Brown’s isolation-based style would be great on a franchise where he could be the focus of the offense, and potentially a No. 1 option next to CJ McCollum as the No. 2. Marcus Smart would give the team an elite defender, and defense is something that the Trail Blazers have lacked in the past few years. There would be some extra draft picks included in the deal, and it is possible they become valuable if the Celtics’ aren’t a competing team later on.
A Damian Lillard-Jayson Tatum duo instantly becomes a contender if Damian Lillard can return to the level of play he has shown in the past. Of course, Lillard returning to form isn’t certain, but with Lillard’s track record, we can expect him to have great performances in the future. Damian Lillard would be able to take some of the attention off Jayson Tatum on the Celtics and could be a 1B option to the Celtics’ star. The Celtics have a good defense, so it’s likely they can cover for Lillard’s defensive liabilities. This seems like a solid deal for both teams.
