The Boston Celtics could have a major decision ahead after missing out on the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, with Jaylen Brown’s future becoming a league-wide storyline. According to Chris Mannix, the name he repeatedly heard connected to a potential Brown trade was Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley.
“The name and the team that came back to me a lot: Evan Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers,” Mannix said regarding teams he has heard linked to Boston’s possible plans.
Brown, 29, remains one of the NBA’s top two-way wings and is entering the third season of his five-year, $285 million contract. The Celtics star averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 71 games in 2025-26 while earning All-NBA Second Team recognition.
Boston finished second in the Eastern Conference at 56-26, trailing only the 60-win Detroit Pistons, but the team’s long-term roster construction has become a focus after the franchise explored a deal for Antetokounmpo. With Brown reportedly used as a potential trade centerpiece, other teams are now expected to evaluate what it would take to acquire him.
Brian Windhorst reported that league executives had already prepared for a possible Brown market, saying there could be a “bidding war” if Boston decided to move him. Brown’s contract status adds complexity, as he still has approximately $183 million remaining and could also become eligible for a two-year extension worth up to $141.8 million.
Mobley represents the type of player the Celtics could target if they decided to reshape around Jayson Tatum. The 25-year-old averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 blocks for Cleveland in 2025-26 while shooting 54.6% from the field. He also made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and remains one of the league’s most versatile frontcourt defenders.
A potential Brown-for-Mobley framework would dramatically alter both teams. Cleveland would add an elite perimeter scorer to pair with Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 27.9 points and 5.7 assists, while Boston would gain a younger defensive anchor entering the second year of a five-year, $269 million extension.
The Cavaliers reached the conference finals after finishing 52-30, but their season ended with a 4-0 sweep against the New York Knicks. Cleveland’s roster already features strong interior talent with Mobley and Jarrett Allen, creating a possible incentive to rebalance the team around Mitchell and wing scoring.
For Boston, replacing Brown would be a franchise-altering move. His 28.7 points per game ranked among the league’s elite scoring seasons, and his 71 starts showed his importance to a Celtics team that remained one of the East’s best despite Tatum missing significant time.
