Welcome to the Deal or No Deal sequence the place we break down if the Celtics ought to carry again a sure participant for the 2025-26 NBA season. If a participant is below “Deal” then the participant shouldn’t be introduced again. If “No Deal” then the participant must be introduced again.
The primary participant have been going to focus on is Jaylen Brown. Brown was coming off of a season the place he received each Japanese Convention Finals MVP and Finals MVP on the highway to the Celtics 2024 NBA championship. The 2025 season was a little bit of a step again nonetheless In 63 video games, he averaged 22.2 PPG, 5.8 REB, 4.5 AST on 46% taking pictures from the sector, 32.4% taking pictures from three, and 76% from the free throw line.
Brown took a leap when it got here to his playmaking, averaging a profession excessive in assists. Nonetheless, his taking pictures regressed, having the bottom three level proportion and second lowest subject purpose proportion of his profession. These dips in taking pictures may have been attributable to among the accidents that he sustained over the course of the yr as he missed intervals of time with a left hip flexor pressure, a proper shoulder pressure, and a torn proper meniscus that he performed with within the final month of the common season and the playoffs.
Brown is not any stranger to commerce rumors. I appears like he has been in them for seemingly his complete profession. Whether or not its Kevin Durant, Paul George, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown’s identify was all the time seen as the principle piece in return however the Celtics have by no means wavered of their assist of him.
When Brad Stevens was requested about his confidence stage in Jaylen Brown being the primary choice for the Celtics, he stated: “I’ve full religion that anytime you’ve got a kind of guys on the court docket you’ve got a great probability to win. I’ve full religion in Jaylen.”
Requested Brad Stevens about his confidence stage in Jaylen Brown main the workforce subsequent yr with out Jayson Tatum:
“I’ve full religion in Jaylen.” pic.twitter.com/TPXLrbLAHo
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) Could 19, 2025
Feels like it is a fairly easy reply for Jaylen Brown’s future with the Celtics, however say they get a name from a workforce just like the Rockets or Spurs that may provide them a package deal of younger gamers and picks that’s simply an excessive amount of to refuse?
The Ringer’s Invoice Simmons proposed a commerce with the Rockets that has Brown and Jrue Vacation going to Houston for a package deal of Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr, Tari Eason, and the tenth Decide within the 2025 Draft. The Spurs may put collectively an enormous package deal of Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Stephon Citadel and the 2nd Decide within the 2025 Draft. Is a package deal of this magnitude sufficient for Brad Stevens to drag the set off on a Jaylen Brown commerce?
Verdict: No Deal
Regardless of the attainable commerce package deal on the market, I don’t suppose the Celtics are going to maneuver Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum goes to be out for many subsequent season with a torn Achilles and I simply don’t suppose it’s sensible for Boston to make drastic modifications to a roster with a lot cohesion. When wholesome, Brown and Tatum are the perfect duo within the NBA and I don’t suppose Brad Stevens has any intentions of breaking that up.
If surgical procedure is required for his torn meniscus Brown may miss a while to start the season but when surgical procedure isn’t wanted, he’s going to be the primary choice for the 2025-26 Boston Celtics and it’s going to be fascinating how he responds. I’m hopeful his taking pictures can bounce again after a dip this yr and we must be in for one more All-NBA season from Jaylen Brown for the Celtics.
