Jaylen Brown's Playoff Disappointment Continues to Motivate Jazz Trade
Sunday night marked the once-favored Boston Celtics falling down 0-3 to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. After Boston’s 2022 Finals run and eventual loss, the expectations to return to the biggest stage were higher than ever. Now, the team finds themselves in a big hole with both hope and the locker room lost.
If history holds to form here, this will be the seventh-consecutive season where the Celtics have fallen short of winning a championship with the core of All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum together. Considering the upcoming supermax contracts expected for both players, it makes you question whether the duo has reached its ceiling.
The Celtics may have to choose between one of the All-NBA wings, and considering the MVP-level play we’ve seen Jayson Tatum be able to perform at, Jaylen Brown may end up being on the move. Brown has also failed to play up to par during this series against the Heat, as Brian Windhorst of ESPN notes in a report on the future of the Celtics:
There is a question about whether the Celtics can give Jaylen Brown an extension worth more than $280 million this offseason. His performance has been dreadful in this series; he was 0-of-7 from 3-point range Sunday and is 2-for-20 from 3 in the three losses against Miami. Before Game 3, it seemed like locking down Brown, 26, was automatic; getting a player at his age in his position under control for five years is good business. After Game 3, it is human nature to wonder if the Tatum-Brown pairing is great or just very good. - Brian Windhorst
Despite his most recent struggles, we know what Jaylen has been able to provide on a consistent basis before these three games. An elite two-way wing of Brown’s caliber doesn’t hit the market too often, and would still be considered potentially one of the most coveted assets of this offseason.
Former connections between Brown and Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge have fueled talks of the wing being sent to Salt Lake City in a trade this summer. In what would be a shocking move to say the least, the Jazz could instantly be back in contention within the Western Conference just one season removed from trading longtime stars, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
A trade for the two-time All-Star would absolutely have to be a massive one. He’s just entering his best years of his career, turning 27 in October, and we still have yet to see how Brown is able to lead a team of his own. Separating himself from Tatum could lead to another step forward in his already productive career.
The package would likely have to consist of another All-Star caliber player and additional picks, something the Jazz do have on hand. A deal involving Lauri Markkanen would be a tough pill to swallow for sure, but improving the roster has to be of the utmost importance. Jaylen Brown would be an overall upgrade from Markkanen, and could be a great piece for the Jazz to build around for the next half-decade plus.
We’ll see how the Celtics respond to the Heat’s 3-0 advantage on Tuesday’s Game 4. If everything holds to form, look for some major changes to be made within Boston’s roster for next season.
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