Boston Celtics
“It remains unclear if the Celtics are urgently attempting to trade Brown or simply listening to pitches from prospective suitors.”
Jaylen Brown has been linked to numerous trade rumors over the summer. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
June 30, 2026 | 8:10 AM
2 minutes to read
The fallout from the Celtics’ failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t appear to be going away — especially when it comes to Boston’s star wing, Jaylen Brown.
As trade rumors continue to swirl around Brown — even after the Bucks ultimately dealt Antetokounmpo to the Heat instead of trading him to Boston — a new report from Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe sheds more light on what might be a fracturing relationship between Brown and the only NBA team he’s ever played for.
“League sources said that the Celtics have continued to field calls from teams interested in trading for Brown,” Himmelsbach wrote. “A league source said that Brown has grown frustrated with the organization’s approach following a season in which he guided the Celtics to 56 wins while Jayson Tatum was sidelined for months with an Achilles injury.
“It remains unclear if the Celtics are urgently attempting to trade Brown or simply listening to pitches from prospective suitors,” Himmelsbach added. “One league source said Brown could still return to the Celtics next season, even if some uncomfortable conversations must happen first.”
Brown has continued to be linked to several rumors involving the Celtics over the last few days, with Boston reportedly weighing several different trade packages centered on first-round picks, younger players, and other assets that would significantly overhaul Boston’s roster.
Speaking last week after the first round of the NBA Draft, Brad Stevens was noncommittal when asked about Brown’s future with the Celtics.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said. “I’m never going to predict the future, but every indication, everything that I think about over the past few years has been building around those guys, right? So obviously, you never know. But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been.
“He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate, a great person to be around. And whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires, or before, there’s a lot to celebrate. We have a great relationship, an open relationship where we talk about everything. But I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as, this is our team.”
Talk of Brown’s reported frustration with the Celtics also holds some weight, especially when factoring in storylines that sprouted up shortly after Boston’s season came to a disappointing end in the first round of the playoffs.
Speaking on Twitch last month, Brown pushed back against comments from NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady that seemed to signal Brown was growing frustrated with his current situation with the Celtics.
“First things first, lotta stuff swirling around the Celtics and our organization,” Brown said. “Hate that our president of basketball operations even had to respond to this. Me and Brad [Stevens] have a great relationship. I love Boston. If it was up to me, I’d play in Boston for the next 10 years. I’ll say it again: I hate that Brad even had to respond to this.”
But has that sentiment changed, especially with Brown reportedly deemed as the centerpiece of a proposed trade to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo?
Not only do the Celtics not have a legitimate star talent in Antetokounmpo following last week’s trade sweepstakes, but they might also have a disgruntled, homegrown talent in Brown, who might be willing to move on after getting embroiled in even more trade rumors.
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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