The reports are out that the Celtics are looking to move their 2023-24 NBA Finals MVP.
According to a new report from ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst, the Boston Celtics "intention" is to trade Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics offered up Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Bucks chose the Miami Heat's offer and shipped him to South Beach.
It's unclear if the Celtics are now looking to move him to simply find a "better fit" for the roster, or if they feel they have to trade him because the initial trade offer has fractured the relationship beyond repair.
If it's the latter, it's not necessarily a given that the C's find a deal of equal value for Brown, who averaged 28.7 ppg this season en route to a sixth-place finish in the NBA's MVP voting.
Other teams are currently circling the Celtics, with one report indicating that the Minnesota Timberwolves had conversations with Boston before acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets.
If the Celtics do ultimately move Brown, it will be the breaking up of one of the best periods in team history. Brown and Jayson Tatum have morphed into one of the best duos in the sport, and they won the NBA Finals in 2023-24. Brown is a five-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection.
The Celtics also got to the NBA Finals in 2021-22, and the duo has been to the Eastern Conference Finals as well, also experiencing success with players like Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker at their side.
With NBA Free Agency beginning on June 30, there might be some pressure to make a decision in the next week. Teams would like to know what their rosters look like - as well as their budgets - before that period.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) controls the ball while Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Bob DeChiara-Imagn ImagesElsewhere in Celtics news
The Celtics utilized both their draft picks in the NBA Draft on Tuesday and Wednesday. They selected University of Houston center Chris Cenac Jr. at Pick No. 27 and then they took St. John's forward Dillon Mitchell at No. 40.
Cenac played just one year at Houston and comes with a lot of upside, while Mitchell played four seasons at three different schools. He was an All-Big East selection last season.
Both players will help the C's get more athletic and both will help Boston achieve its goal of being better on the interior.
Boston appears set on changing its style of play, something that might be further emphasized by a trade of Brown.
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