The Boston Celtics’ hopes of becoming the first team since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors to repeat as champions came to a shocking end in the second round. While they were already expected to break up their championship core due to luxury tax purposes, their early postseason exit — combined with Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles — has made it far more likely that there will be major changes in Boston.
Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis have been reported as the most likely options to be moved this summer, however, they are not the only players the Celtics front office has taken calls on. NBA insider Shams Charania recently appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show”, where he revealed that Boston is open to moving Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
“Are teams making big offers and calling about Jaylen Brown and Derrick White?,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday. “One hundred percent. The Celtics prefer not to trade them, from my understanding, but listen, if they get a big offer, they have to look at everything. And I think they’re going to get, you know, offers on the three guys that they’re focused on. They’re going to get offers potentially on Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. And I think between now and the draft and free agency, they’re going to evaluate what makes sense from a value perspective.”
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Charania added that while the Celtics are more focused on moving Holiday, Porzingis and Sam Hauser, everybody except Tatum could be available. While the six-time All-Star has long been considered the face of the franchise, it was Brown who walked away with both the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP awards during Boston’s title run in 2023-24.
With Tatum now expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season, the Celtics could look to retool their roster in preparation for his return. It is unclear what they could want in a return for either Brown or White, however, one has to assume that they would only move either player for a substantial package.
More NBA: Warriors expected to pair NBA champion Bucks forward with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler
