After a career-best season and an All-NBA campaign, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has become one of the NBA’s biggest trade storylines. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, at least six teams have expressed interest in acquiring the 29-year-old forward as speculation surrounding his future continues to intensify ahead of free agency.
Brown is coming off the finest season of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists while finishing sixth in NBA MVP voting and earning All-NBA Second Team honors. Despite helping Boston finish 56-26 and secure the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed, the Celtics were eliminated in seven games by the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening round, fueling questions about potential roster changes.
Scotto reported that the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers have all registered varying levels of interest in Brown. However, league sources told HoopsHype that the New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic are not currently considered serious contenders.
Portland continues to be viewed as one of the most aggressive suitors, although the framework of any deal remains a significant obstacle. According to Danny Marang, the Trail Blazers are unwilling to include All-Star forward Deni Avdija, starting center Donovan Clingan or defensive standout Toumani Camara in negotiations.
Instead, Portland’s most realistic package would revolve around veteran forward Jerami Grant, former lottery picks Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, along with substantial draft compensation. Marang noted that moving Clingan would immediately create the same hole at center that Boston is attempting to solve, making the 22-year-old effectively untouchable.
That stance leaves Boston facing an interesting decision. Avdija would have represented an ideal centerpiece after averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists during his first All-Star campaign, while Clingan developed into one of the league’s better young defensive centers with averages of 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks across 77 starts. Without either player included, Portland may need to significantly increase its draft-pick offer.
The Trail Blazers possess considerable draft flexibility. They control Milwaukee’s 2028 and 2030 first-round swap rights, a complicated three-team first-round arrangement in 2029 involving Boston and Milwaukee, plus their own first-round selections in 2031, 2032 and 2033. Those assets could become crucial if the Celtics prioritize future flexibility over acquiring another established young cornerstone.
Elsewhere, Toronto owns all of its first-round picks from 2027 through 2033, giving the Raptors one of the league’s cleanest collections of draft capital after finishing 46-36 and reaching the playoffs.
Denver has reportedly become more open to reshaping its roster around Nikola Jokic, while Brooklyn can offer multiple future first-round picks alongside the expiring contract of Michael Porter Jr. and center Day’Ron Sharpe, a player Boston reportedly liked in previous discussions.
Charlotte’s exploratory talks have cooled after the Hornets acquired Naz Reid, although Reid remains a player Boston has long admired. Atlanta continues to monitor Brown, a Georgia native, but an all-in move would conflict with the Hawks’ current youth-focused direction after drafting Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Narcisse Ngoy.
The Clippers were considered stronger contenders before the draft, but selecting Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick reduced the likelihood of a blockbuster deal.
