Boston Celtics
“The Warriors could’ve got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up 4 first-round picks-ish, in that range.”
Jaylen Brown was dealt by Boston to the 76ers earlier this month. AP Photo/Jim Davis
The Boston Celtics stunned the NBA by choosing to trade star Jaylen Brown to the 76ers earlier this month.
But, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the Celtics were entertaining offers for Brown well before this offseason.
Even with Brown in the midst of an All-NBA season for Boston in 2025-26, the Celtics were seemingly willing to trade Brown before the league’s trade deadline in February — nearly a month before Jayson Tatum was even cleared to return to the parquet floor after rehabbing back from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Charania, speaking on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Monday, said the Celtics had conversations with the Golden State Warriors through the last few months on a trade centered on Brown.
“The Warriors could’ve got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up 4 first-round picks-ish, in that range,” Charania said. “They decided not to from my understanding.”
“Those two teams, the Warriors and Celtics did talk about a Jaylen Brown trade around the trade deadline and it was around several first round draft picks, potential swaps, and seconds. The Warriors decided not to go down that route and so that’s on them. That’s the decision they made.”
Brown was ultimately traded to Philly in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round selections — ending an eventful offseason rife with drama for both Brown and Boston.
Boston also reportedly offered up Brown as part of a blockbuster deal involving two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo before the Bucks ultimately dealt him to the Miami Heat.
While the Celtics have drawn criticism for their overall return for a star player like Brown, the deal has come under added scrutiny after the 76ers — an Atlantic Division foe of Boston — continued their bombastic offseason by signing LeBron James last week.
Charania wondered if the 76ers would have even been in a position to reel in James had it not acquired Brown from Boston just a few weeks earlier.
“If [the Warriors] had went out and got that [Celtics trade] done, does that make LeBron James more viable?” Charania said. “If the Warriors had gone out and been willing to give up several draft capital to go get an Anthony Davis from Washington, does LeBron James follow suit?
“My understanding was if the Warriors were able to get Anthony Davis, they had as good of a chance, if not better than anyone, to get a LeBron James and I think you have to look at that in the calculus of everything.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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