The Boston Celtics have openly put Jaylen Brown on the trade market after they did not land Giannis Antetokounmpo. While many teams are interested in the Celtics’ star wing, the team has hit a major roadblock when trying to complete a deal.
Celtics Finding it Difficult to Move Jaylen Brown for the Right Package
Brown is coming off a career-best scoring season in 2025-26. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.0 steals. The 29-year-old finished sixth in MVP voting and earned All-NBA Second Team honors. However, Boston was willing to include Brown in trade talks for Antetokounmpo, and now the franchise’s relationship with Brown might be beyond repair.
ESPN’s Shams Charania appeared on “First Take” on July 1. He reported that Boston is “strongly shopping” Brown, and teams are not giving the Celtics their lofty asking price.
“[Boston is] soliciting offers from a market of about 8 to 10 teams in the last several days. It’s unclear whether a deal is close … but there’s been a high price threshold that the Celtics have set … They have asked some teams for at least four first-round picks,” said Charania.
.@ShamsCharania says the Celtics have been “soliciting offers from a market of about 8-10 teams” for Jaylen Brown 👀 pic.twitter.com/NUZpy9u7M2
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 1, 2026
The insider made it clear that Brown has not formally requested a trade. Instead, Boston actively put him on the trade block after he just won the 2024 NBA championship and took home Finals MVP.
Four first-round selections are a shockingly high asking price. However, with so many stars already switching teams this summer, the Celtics likely do not have anyone available to immediately step into Brown’s role.
Charania said they offered two first-round picks and Brown for Antetokounmpo, but the Milwaukee Bucks took the Miami Heat’s package instead. As a result, Boston now wants the future flexibility to possibly trade these picks for another star down the line.
Many people expected the Celtics to take a step back last season because Jayson Tatum spent most of the campaign recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. That was not the case, in large part, due to Brown’s improved play.
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He carried a career-high 36.2% usage and maintained great scoring efficiency (47.7%) and volume (21.7 FGA). While he has not asked the Celtics for a trade, he may want to be the first option on another team after his successful 2025-26 campaign.
If Boston trades the five-time All-Star for a draft haul instead of another star, it could see a drop in wins for the 2026-27 campaign. Tatum would likely have to return to his first-team All-NBA form to keep the Celtics near the top of the Eastern Conference, especially after teams like the Toronto Raptors and Heat are expected to take major leaps.
