The Boston Celtics are actively shopping Jaylen Brown following their failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Portland Trail Blazers have emerged as a team in the conversation.
Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Portland is open to engaging in trade discussions involving its young core. There is one name, however, that is simply not going anywhere.
Blazers Will Not Trade Deni Avdija At Any Cost
Scotto’s report makes Portland’s position crystal clear:
“Trail Blazers All-Star forward Deni Avdija was not on the table in trade talks for Antetokounmpo, and he remains off the table in Brown discussions as of now, league sources told HoopsHype. Portland’s other young players, such as Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, are considered available.”
The Portland Trail Blazers made Deni Avdija untouchable in Giannis trade talks and have not made him available in Jaylen Brown trade talks, per @MikeAScotto
“Trail Blazers All-Star forward Deni Avdija was not on the table in trade talks for Antetokounmpo, and he remains off the… pic.twitter.com/jkhdz1gcE9
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 28, 2026
Portland’s stance on Avdija is not hard to understand once you look at the numbers. The 25-year-old Israeli forward is playing on a four-year, $55 million contract he signed back in 2023, and averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game this season after earning his first All-Star selection.
On the open market, a wing putting up those numbers could normally command somewhere in the region of $35 to $40 million a year. Portland has him for $13.1 million next season and $11.8 million the year after that.
Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe being available is notable in its own right. Both were top-five draft picks, both are still just 21 years old, and both have had inconsistent runs in Portland. The Blazers are clearly willing to move off either one if the right package comes back, which speaks to how central Avdija has become to their long-term plans.
The Celtics reportedly want at least four first-round picks for Brown, a number that many teams would frown upon. Brown has three years and $183 million remaining on his deal, and his analytics profile has drawn mixed reviews from rival front offices, as Bobby Marks revealed this week.
The Blazers, with Henderson and Sharpe available, give the Celtics picks and young talent to work with. Whether the overall package meets Boston’s asking price without Avdija included is the question the two sides now need to answer.
It seems like Brown may be shown the way out after the Celtics failed to get Giannis Antetokounmpo. It is surprising that they chose to include him in trade talks, considering the way he led Boston when Jayson Tatum was out for the majority of the season. But if there’s one thing we know about the NBA, it’s that it can get very unpredictable.
