Hi All,

Been a while since I've posted on here but with all the Jaylen Brown spectulation I had an interesting idea at how the Celts could stay competitive in the event of Brown wanting to leave.

The Celtics recieve Lauri Markkanen, RJ Barrett and Isiah Hartenstein in exchange for Brown, Williams and Payton Pritchard. The Knicks bring in Brown and Beef Stew, Obi gets out of MSG and the Jazz sell super high on their one-time all star signing and trading for Grant Williams, adding guard depth in Pritchard and they acquire a lot of draft capital too. Here's why each team makes this trade:

Celtics: Perhaps if the Celts win the playoffs or Jaylen makes an all-nba team this isn't an issue but if he intends to "explore" his options in FA I think Brad Stevens would have to be proactive in moving Brown. Losing him for nothing or less than replacement level assets damages Boston's championship ceiling but I think this move holds them at the top of the East. In exchange for Brown, Grant Williams - who I think will look to sign elsewhere anyway in FA and Pritchard who's their 4th choice guard in the rotation they bring in an adequate wing replacement in RJ. They fix their 4 position for the future bringing Lauri in and they add back up big depth with Isiah becoming their 3/4th choice big behind Rob Williams and Al Horford.

RJ is a classic buy low situation. Despite an inefficient season he's been a big part of a winning basketball team in 2 of his first 4 seasons in the league. He's the same body type as Jaylen and really is signed to the same contract that the Celtics extended Brown on in 2020. Barrett is still 22 and there's a chance that he develops into a good approximation of Brown on the Celtics, being a clear secondary option to Tatum, probably garnering easier matchups than what he's currently experiencing in MSG. Barrett could start as an oversized 2 for the Celtics or come off the bench as a sixth man allowing them to start Smart and White, or go supersized with Tatum at the two, Lauri 3, Horford 4 and Williams 5. On top of Barrett himself the Celtics would bring in a high quality back up big in Isiah Hartenstein who's one of the better rim protectors and rebounders in the league. (I think they need to invest in that back up 5 spot as Rob Williams can't be relied upon to stay healthy.

Lastly they move the picks they've recevived in the Brown trade on top of Payton Pritchard and Grant Williams for a star in Lauri Markkanen. I love Lauri's game. He's shown this year he's one of the most efficient players in the league, versatile on the offensive end able to play with the ball in his hands, off ball, as a roller, popper, screener, spacer, you name it the 7ft bigman with insane shooting stroke can do it all, all on low usage. Lauri comes into the starting lineup at 4 in this scenario and offers that same weakside rim protection as Al Horford and also allows the Celts to run most of their play through Tatum and the guard attack.

This move leaves Boston short of a true second star but it drastically increases the depth of one of the already deeper teams in the league, allowing them to maintain the same offensive punch they have this year while also addressing the Al Horford isn't eternal issue and bringing in cover for their mercurial but often injured center.

PG: Smart, SG: Barrett, SF: Tatum, PF: Markkanen, C: Williams III - Bench White, Brogdon, Horford, Hartenstein, Hauser - Muscala, Kornet, Gallinari

That's an insanely deep roster that maintains playoff flexibility and secures the Celtics a young core of Tatum, Lauri, Barrett and Williams on top of a tonne of veteran talent that should keep them competing in the East.

Knicks:

It's a bit simpler for the Knicks. To me they have the assets to swing for a star and I think Brown makes the most sense of anyone who could come onto the market this offseason. They shouldn't be trading for a guard who needs the ball in his hands like say a Trae Young or Damian Lillard, they shouldn't be trading for a center that messes up their defensive scheme like Karl Anthony Towns, they need an upgrade on Barrett and Brown is exactly that. This season he's scoring 27 points per game, offers self created high volume 3 point attempts and a really high 2 point percentage for his position. All in all he's a high efficiency elastic scorer who next to a playmaker like Brunson should thrive in the bright lights of New York. On top of acquiring Brown they swap Obi who just deserves a fresh chance at a different team at this point for a replacmenet back up big in Isiah Stewart. Beef Stew offers the Knicks something different with his ability to stretch the floor and play at the four potentially allowing for Jericho Sims to continue developing as their true back up center, not a small ball 5. The loss of the draft capital and young assets is difficult, I think that Barrett will be the trade piece the Knicks use to lure a star to MSG and Obi and Isiah are replacable albeit decent roleplayers. That leaves the Knicks looking like this:

PG: Brunson, SG: Grimes, SF: Brown, PF: Randle, C: Robinson - Bench: Quickley, Hart, Stewart, Sims, McBride

I think the Knicks need one more piece to truly compete with this, even if it's a 10th man wing but this elevates them to being truly dangerous next year in the East. They'd have 3 25 point scorers starting, a decent defensive infrastructure and one of the best benches in the league, particularly at teh top end given the talent of Quickley and Hart. (One of the other benefits of trading for Brown is that Boston's already set at the giard positions allowing you to keep Quickley off the table in trade negotiations) I could see them running through the East in the regular season in 23 and mounting a decent charge in the playoffs for years to come. Like the Celtics this secures the Knicks a core in their 20's which means they have a long window of contention. By 2025 they could even add another star given taht their pick capital will have been restored.

Jazz: I don't actually know if the Jazz do this, maybe they ask for one more pick from Boston but it's a great return for Lauri. Danny Ainge isn't sentimental and this trade nets them a starting level forward in Grant who's fantastic on the defensive end, a PG he believes in seeing as he drafted Payton and 3 decent additional picks for the future. There's no need to do this trade but it would mean that they have an even larger gluttony of picks to use in the coming years, setting them up for big tardes down the line too.

Lastly,

Pistons: I just like this for the Pistons, it opens up minutes for Wiseman and Duren further, gives them a more classic 4 man who fits the profile of players that Troy Weaver likes and gives Cade and Ivey a freight train to target in transition. Obi would have a chance to show off his talent in Detroit and could probably be secured long term for a reasonable 2nd contract. It balances out the roster as really at teh moment they have 4 traditonal bigs and a real lack of forwards.

Let me know what you think, who says no, can Boston get a better return for Jaylen?