Western Conference Team President Denies Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors

Following the recent departures of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics fans may have been worrying that the next key member of their 2024 championship core to be traded would be four-time All-Star Jaylen Brown.

Through the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, Brown is still a member of the Celtics, and there’s at least one team that’d been involved in rumors surrounding “JB” that may be out of the running for the 28-year-old.

Utah Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge denied rumors late Wednesday night that his team was pursuing Brown.

“Austin Ainge said there’s no truth to the rumors that the Jazz have held discussions about Jaylen Brown over the last few days,” Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune posted on Bluesky. “I don’t like to confirm or deny rumors, just as a policy, but I will this time. No, that hasn’t happened. No conversations that way.”

Is Brown Still on the Trading Block Following Celtics’ Other Moves?

The Jazz may (for now) be having no discussions about offering the Celtics a trade for Brown, but that doesn’t mean that other teams aren’t interested.

NBA analysts and experts had long been expecting Boston to be active in the early stages of the offseason, as they faced financial pressure. Following the trades of Holiday and Porzingis, however, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and company have succeeded in ducking under the second apron.

If they want, they won’t have to move Brown or fellow star guard Derrick White, this summer to avoid tax penalties.

Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Celtics have saved approximately $180 million in tax penalties with the Holiday and Porzingis moves.

Now, with six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum expected to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign due to his Achilles injury, Boston will almost surely take a step back next season but can perhaps stay in the playoff picture in a weak Eastern Conference with Brown and White leading the way.

Austin Ainge Bolted Boston, Joined Utah Jazz in Early June

Utah’s rumored conversations about pursuing Brown likely stem from Ainge’s very relevant and recent connection to the organization.

Less than one month ago, Ainge was serving as the Celtics assistant general manager, a position he held for six seasons. The 43-year-old was originally hired by his father (former Celtics All-Star guard and team president Danny Ainge) as Boston’s director of player personnel in 2011.

The elder Ainge left Beantown to become the Jazz’s CEO in 2021 and Austin joined his father in early June.