Jaylen Brown is navigating a bizarre and uncertain chapter of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics. Despite delivering an MVP-caliber performance during Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury absence, the five-time All-Star’s future in Boston is up in the air. During the 2025-26 season, Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game in 71 appearances while shooting 47.7% from the field.
After Boston’s failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics continue to engage in trade talks involving Brown. The Denver Nuggets have shown interest in acquiring the former NBA Finals MVP, but their lack of draft assets and salary-cap space makes a deal difficult. However, NBA analyst Bill Simmons tried to find a creative way to pair Brown and Nikola Jokić in Denver.
Bill Simmons’ Bold Trade Idea To Bring Jaylen Brown To Denver
On the latest episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Simmons laid out a wild trade blueprint designed around Denver’s asset shortage to pair Brown with the three-time MVP Jokić.
“There’s a lot of smoke billowing around Denver in general. Some I believe, some I don’t believe,” said Simmons. “[Jamal] Murray and Cam Johnson for Jaylen and [Sam] Hauser, which would save Denver $10 million this year. The Celtics could take Cam Johnson as their trade exception.
“Murray is $50 million this year, $54 million next year, and $57 million after that… about $8 million behind Jaylen in each of those years… I’m adding Cam Johnson, who I can either keep or spin in a trade, and I am getting somebody who I still think is one of the best 25 players in the league back for Jaylen. I think, if I’m Boston, I’m signing up for that trade. If I’m Denver, I’m at least having a six-hour meeting.
“It’s a reconstruction of the team because you’re going to remove the Murray-Jokić pick-and-roll. But you could run a lot of that offense through the Joker… Re-sign Peyton Watson with the extra money… You have Jokić, [Aaron] Gordon, and Jaylen as your front line. You have more flexibility, and you have somebody who can really step in if Gordon gets hurt, which he does every year.”
Bill Simmons’ Nuggets-Celtics trade proposal 👀
Jamal Murray + Cam Johnson for Jaylen Brown + Sam Hauser
“There’s a lot of smoke billowing around Denver in general. Some I believe some I don’t believe.” pic.twitter.com/5NgD2feAwR
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) June 29, 2026
Brown has three years left on his five-year, $285 million designated veteran extension that he signed in 2023. He will earn $57 million in 2026-27, $61 million in 2027-28, and $64.9 million in the final year of the contract.
As the Celtics look to maximize Brown’s trade, Brad Stevens and Co. are reportedly seeking at least four first-round draft picks. The Nuggets only have their 2031 first-round pick available, plus up to two first-round pick swaps in 2031 and 2033, so a trade between the two teams may be unlikely unless a third team is willing to facilitate.
The salary cap poses another obstacle, as they already have over $185 million committed to just five starters and $212,075,672 in total payroll for next season (the fourth-highest in the NBA).
However, Simmons’ blueprint offers a clever multiplayer swap that could potentially work for both sides.
This is all hypothetical, but the billowing smoke in Denver might signal a fascinating new chapter as the franchise looks to get back into contention.
