The former Boston Celtics star reportedly wasn't interested in playing for "teams like the New Orleans Pelicans."
The New Orleans Pelicans were long-rumored to be suitors for former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown before the trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, but it appears that the star would have tried to kill any trade to the Pelicans or teams in similar states.
With the dust settling from the surprising trade, more details around the trade talks have begun to emerge. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Friday that New Orleans was indeed one of the teams to call about Brown, but the star had no interest.
"In talks with the [Charlotte] Hornets, among other teams like New Orleans and Brooklyn [Nets], Brown made it clear he did not want to be traded there, which added another layer of confusion for the Celtics to all of these trade talks."
This could be a reason that the Pelicans weren't able to pull off a trade, even though they could have presented a far better offer for Brown than Paul George, two firsts and two seconds.
While Brown doesn't have a no-trade clause, and couldn't have made a trade to New Orleans impossible, it being known that he doesn't want to play for the Pelicans would have certainly hurt what Joe Dumars and co. would have been willing to offer. Trading Trey Murphy, for example, would have been a disaster had Brown ended up leaving after his contract ends in three years.
Dumars has also said in the recent past that he has no intention of hiring or signing any players/coaches that don't want to be a part of that specific organization. It would have been uncharacteristic of him to continue pursuing that trade.
It could end up being a blessing in disguise for New Orleans. The 76ers are getting a good player, but he's also very expensive. Taking in someone who is going to be making an average of $61 million per year. That would handicap the Pelicans majorly, seeing as though they aren't really a team that explores into the luxury tax right now.
Murphy is an infinitely more tradeable player, and isn't a far worse player. Given what New Orleans' team looks like, he'll probably be a better fit.
Pelicans fans are getting tired of the inaction of this offseason, but this reason does at least make it somewhat clear as to why they didn't do anything here.
