Could the Charlotte Hornets trade for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown?
There are rumors going around that the Boston Celtics could trade Jaylen Brown this offseason. The Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of this year's playoffs and some people believe Brown is frustrated playing for Boston.
Since Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee worked with Brown on the Celtics, Charlotte has been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Brown.
However, NBA insider Zach Lowe doesn't think a deal can get done.
Brown has a massive contract. He'll make $57,078,728 next season. If the Celtics look to trade the All-Star this summer, Brad Stevens will undoubtedly be looking for a huge haul.
It doesn't make sense for the Hornets to break up their core to acquire Brown. They are better suited to keep LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel together and focus on internal development.
The Hornets boasted the No. 1 net rating (+10.5) in the NBA since Jan. 1, ranking atop the league in offensive rating (120.7) and fifth in defensive rating (110.2). Charlotte also led the league in rebounding percentage (54.8%), second chance points (19.0) and 3-pointers made per game (17.3) in that stretch, culminating in the team’s first postseason victory since 2016 in front of a record-breaking home crowd in the Play-In Tournament.
The future in Charlotte is bright, and while Brown is one of the best players in the NBA, trading Miller or Knueppel to acquire the one-time champion is counterproductive.
Now, if the Hornets can somehow acquire Brown without giving up Miller or Knueppel, then a blockbuster trade makes sense. However, Stevens is not going to trade Brown to Charlotte without getting Miller or Knueppel in return.
All signs point toward the Hornets starting Ball, Miller, Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate next season. That lineup was one of the top starting fives in the league this season.
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