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[Saba Sports News] Big changes are on the horizon for the Boston Celtics. With Jayson Tatum set to miss all of next season due to a torn Achilles, many expect the team to retool its roster and address salary cap concerns.
That could mean trading high-cost veterans like Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis in an effort to get under the second tax apron.
Jaylen Brown hasn’t been a frequent subject of trade rumors — he’s Tatum’s co-star and one of the NBA’s elite wings — but Chris Mannix recently hinted that Boston could consider moving him. If so, the San Antonio Spurs are a team to watch.
Proposed Trade:
Spurs receive: Jaylen Brown
Celtics receive: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, 2025 No. 2 overall pick, 2025 No. 14 overall pick, 2027 first-round pick (via Atlanta)
While trading Brown would be a bold move, the Spurs have both the motivation and the assets to make it happen. Brown, a four-time All-Star and reigning Finals MVP, is a proven scorer and elite defender. At 28 years old, he’s still squarely in his prime and fits well with San Antonio’s timeline.
Adding Brown to a core of Victor Wembanyama and newly acquired De’Aaron Fox would give the Spurs a legitimate big three. Despite finishing 13th in the West last season, they’re clearly on the rise — and acquiring Brown would accelerate their ascent into title contention.
Vassell and Johnson are solid young wings, but neither offers the two-way impact that Brown brings. San Antonio’s deep pool of draft picks gives them the flexibility to make this kind of deal without sacrificing Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
Boston, meanwhile, would receive two young, starting-caliber wings along with three valuable first-round picks, including the No. 2 selection in the 2025 draft (projected to be Dylan Harper). That alone could be enticing for a team looking to restock talent while managing financial strain.
While it’s hard to justify trading a star like Brown, the Celtics could gain long-term flexibility and depth. Vassell and Johnson offer combined production for roughly $9 million less than Brown’s salary, and the incoming draft picks could yield multiple high-upside players. With Harper projecting as an All-Star and the Hawks potentially bottoming out by 2027, the Celtics could end up with even more lottery-level talent.
Still, moving Brown would signal a partial rebuild, which may not align with Boston’s championship ambitions once Tatum returns. Trading Holiday or Porzingis likely makes more sense in the short term. But if the Celtics are willing to take a long view, San Antonio’s offer might be worth considering — even if only hypothetically.