The Boston Celtics are staring down the barrel of an uncertain future now that they got booted in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs and star forward Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of their series against the New York Knicks.
The Celtics might not have what it takes to compete for the 2026 NBA title if Tatum misses most or all of next season, so Boston blowing up its current core this summer to retool around Tatum could be a real possibility.
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown probably has the most trade value of any player on the team not named Tatum, as he’s a former Finals MVP with an impressive playoff track record. According to Chris Mannix, if the Celtics opt to involve Brown in trade discussions, the San Antonio Spurs are a team to watch as a suitor for the 28-year-old.
“The team I’d watch the closest with Jaylen Brown is probably the Spurs,” Mannix said. “Sure, I think (the Spurs would) love to make a run at Giannis [Antetokounmpo], but do the [Milwaukee] Bucks ask for Stephon Castle? Like, is that on their wish list? And if it is, I can’t see San Antonio doing a deal like that.”
Trading for Brown would be a win-now move for San Antonio, as he’s a bona fide star who would add to the team’s already talented young core. The Spurs already employ maybe the most talented young big man in the NBA in Victor Wembanyama as well as floor general De’Aaron Fox and guard Stephon Castle, who just recently captured the Rookie of the Year award for the 2024-25 season.
Assuming the Spurs would be able to trade for Brown without giving up Wembanyama, Castle or Fox, the foursome with Brown in the fold would be an intimidating group to go up against. The Spurs would be one of the better teams in a stacked Western Conference next season.
Folks shouldn’t operate with the mindset that it’s a certainty the Celtics will trade Brown in the near future, but if they do, the Spurs stand out as a desirable landing spot for Brown on paper, and the start of the 2025 NBA Draft is coming up on the horizon.
