The NBA moves at a break-neck pace. Who would've thought the Boston Celtics would need to engage in honest conversations about trading Jaylen Brown less than 12 months after he won Finals MVP?
The best option may be to remain loyal to the four-time All-Star. He's 28 and consistently returns better after the offseason than he was in the previous campaign. Brown's next evolution could stem from a season without Jayson Tatum for most, if not the duration, of it.
However, as trade rumors centered around parting with Brown swirl, NBC Sports Boston's Chris Forsberg pondered a deal sending the former All-NBA Second Team selection to the San Antonio Spurs.
In exchange for parting with Brown, the Celtics would receive a package including some combination of young talent. They'd be working from an assortment of Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson. Jeremy Sochan is another name worth considering in that conversation.
Boston would also acquire draft capital from San Antonio. That could come in the form of the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft. The Celtics would suddenly find themselves with a chance to select a prospect brimming with the potential to become a franchise cornerstone.
The case for the Celtics making this trade
As highlighted above, a deal of this nature would allow Boston to inject its roster with an infusion of young talent.
The prized draft capital may be the Spurs returning the Celtics' top-1 protected 2028 pick swap. However, if the former is willing to part with the No. 2 pick to pair Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox with Brown, the former could draft Dylan Harper.
The former Rutgers Scarlet Knights star has the tools to become an elite combo guard at the next level. The six-foot-six Harper has an impressive feel as a playmaker. He's also a force when attacking downhill.
The swing skill for Harper that will determine his ceiling is his three-point shooting. He converted on 33 percent of his 5.2 attempts from beyond the arc in his lone collegiate campaign. What's encouraging is he made 75 percent of his free throws. That could be a sign of improvement on the horizon.
That pick could also go towards VJ Edgecombe, a toolsy elite athlete. Gambling on Ace Bailey, a six-foot-10 wing with a knack for creating and capitalizing on difficult shots, would also warrant consideration.
Giving a high-end prospect ample room to develop as a rookie before teaming with Tatum could extend Boston's championship window for years. A combination of Vassell, Johnson, Sochan, and Castle, who are each 25 and under, would help that cause.
Lastly, if the Celtics are trading Brown, it's a safe bet Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are also on their way out. So, while a trade of this nature would only shed about $8.6 million in salary, those other moves would go toward getting under the second apron.
Why the Celtics should not make this trade
As outlined above, Boston doesn't have to part with Brown to get under the second apron.
Pairing Tatum, who will return at age 29, with a prospect in his early 20s who might need years before helping him contend for titles could prematurely close the franchise's championship window.
The Celtics will also want Tatum as comfortable as possible upon returning to the court. That means having Brown at his side.
This proposal is tempting. However, the risk involved is too steep. If Tatum returns healthy, the duo that led the franchise to Banner 18 gives Boston the best balance of resuming and sustaining the ability to compete for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
