Guard Jaylen Brown was reportedly part of a package the Celtics offered to the Nets for Kevin Durant. Brown, however, does not want to move, according to sources. Steven Senne/Associated Press
It’s part of the package for newly minted NBA stars. As the league’s trade season heats up, the brightest names drive the flow.
And Jaylen Brown, long thought to be part of the Celtics’ anticipated pitch for Kevin Durant, was the only element that made sense once the Nets star demanded a trade earlier this summer. Reports on Monday by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania placed Brown at the head of a Celtics’ offer (also including picks and Derrick White) for Durant, with Charania adding that the Nets countered with a demand for the inclusion of Marcus Smart.
Brown, who had recently posted a video of his underwater weights routine, responded on Twitter with a simple, frustrated post: “smh.”
Smh
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) July 25, 2022
It’s become common, especially on local talk radio, to debate whether Brown wants to remain a Celtic. But according to a league source quite familiar with the young star’s thinking, the tweet reflected Brown’s dismay at the thought he would be sent away from the only NBA home he has known.
“He loves it in Boston. He was two games away from a championship,” the source told the Boston Herald. “He’s happy and looking forward to coming back. … Like Kawhi (Leonard), AD (Anthony Davis) and others on that level, he’s going to be included in every report because of who he is.”
The 25-year-old’s feelings about his current situation are important, for he can begin negotiating an extension with the Celtics in October. He has two years, and approximately $60 million, left on his current contract. Durant, eight years older, has roughly $198 million and four years left.
Brown’s star is clearly on the rise. He became the first NBA player last season to sign with Donda Sports, Kanye West’s sports marketing company, while also retaining Jason Glushon as his regular agent. He’s a member of the Players Association’s executive board, and a fresh voice in matters of social justice across all American sports.
And as the player considered 1A to Jayson Tatum’s seminal position as star of the Celtics, he’s the most likely to find his way into trade rumors.
As a league executive told the Boston Herald near the start of the trade deadline, the Celtics planned on being one of the bidders when Brooklyn started fielding offers for Durant.
At the time, the executive estimated that 20 teams would become involved in the chase, though none of the subsequent offers were enough for Nets General Manager Sean Marks to pull the trigger.
Brown’s name is the most significant to surface so far – Miami’s best offer was reportedly a package built around Tyler Herro – but while talking to the Boston Herald on Monday, the source surmised that the Nets are simply trying to create a market by bringing up Brown’s name now.
“They’re not happy with anything out there,” he said of the Nets. “At the end of the day Brooklyn hasn’t been able to get close to what they want for Durant.”
And by the end of the summer, the Nets could find themselves in the most ironic position of all – attempting to make it work one final time with Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons still on the roster.
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