The Boston Celtics are willing to listen to trade offers on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White after also trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this week. The Celtics are resetting their finances amid salary cap, luxury tax and apron concerns, but a trade of either Brown or White would be transformational and set up an entirely new roster for when Jayson Tatum returns in 2026.
“I’m highly skeptical that they would trade him,” said Brian Windhorst on Wednesday’s First Take of Brown. “However, some of their actions make me wonder.”
Windhorst added that the Celtics may trade Anfernee Simons along to another team based on the intel he’s received and that there could be additional major moves.
“It makes me wonder if they’re not looking at something else to bring in more talent because their talent drain has been pretty significant,” said Windhorst. “First off, understand when they signed Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to these contracts they knew they were heading for an onerous situation. It wasn’t like they did it in the dark. They knew there was going to be a day that came where they wouldn’t be able to have this roster at this expense.
“This is the big question: in 2026 does it make sense to run an NBA team where you have two players to make over $150 million? Because that’s where those guys are. In this era of aprons. In this era where you need depth. Does it make sense to have two players with that much money tied up in them?
“I don’t know the answer. The league is changing right now. The league is trying to figure it out. This is what I think the Celtics are figuring out.
“Keep in mind, the reason today is the day the decision is probably going to get made is there are teams in the top-10 who are making offers. You could potentially get replacement players and a draft pick. I don’t know if Brad Stevens and his staff is in love with one of these top guys. Maybe there are. That’s what is on the table.
“I say at midnight Jaylen Brown is still a Celtic and Derrick White is still a Celtic. And they run it back and they get ready to go in 26-27. But I don’t know for sure that’s going to happen.”
The San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors are four of the teams picking in the top-10 who have been aggressive in upgrading their teams this offseason.
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June 25, 2025 | 11:30 am
