Hypothetical: Would You Trade Jaylen Brown for the 2021 1st Overall Pick?

[tstorey_97]

Not sure how Ainge is going to find KG 2.0 and get the Celtics another title.

I understand that it is a game of assets and Brown might be the asset to trade in pursuit of the player that is big underneath and can hit threes like...like...Anthony Davis.

I'll just always say you can't trade Brown because of his defense. It is wildly difficult to find a player like Jaylen Brown. He is top 20 on offense and is a top defensive winger.

His presence on the team allows management if they choose,  to run an "offensive player".

Walker
Brown
Tatum
"offensive PF"
Robert

We've discussed this a lot. Auerbach signs Bird and the next day has a sit down with Maxwell..."I'm going to need you to play defense now."

Max: "What?!"
 

[GreenWarrior]

Not for nothing but.... Do celtics fans just not care about winning? Do you watch the celtics just so you can watch 1st and 2nd yr. players? Is all about debating who they should and shouldn't draft and then being right?

The point I'm getting at is we should not be trading brown for any draft pick, we should not be involved in developing anymore players beyond brown and tatum- we should be adding to them not going through this perpetual wait n see if this guy pans out.

[nickagneta]

As LeBron, a freaking Laker, said: Jaylen "Underappreciated" Brown.

#JKJB

Just Keep Jaylen Brown

[Birdman]

No way

[nickagneta]

I mean, really!!! This team isn't that far off of a championship. Health, maturity of players, and one or two of the right type of vets, and this team is contending for a title for the next 5 years or more.

So, let's do a mini blowup, trade Brown for a teenager and waste years of Tatum's excellence and years of a window of contention because some teenager, might, can't stress that enough, might get as good as Brown is now, nevermind how good Jaylen can be in a year or two if he takes another leap in his game like he has the past two years.

This is nuts.

[Jvalin]

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

Don't get me wrong, Brown is a great player. I don't want us to trade him. It's just that I'm very high on Cunnigham.

I bet most lotto teams would rather have Cunningham over Brown. It all depends on which team wins the lottery.

[Donoghus]

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

The allure of potential is a dangerous thing.

Especially when you already have a kid who is clearly still trending upwards and about to play in his first ASG tomorrow night.

[Celtics2021]

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call the best prospect in three years a “generational talent.”  All that said, while as a pure value move I would make that trade for the Celtics, in terms of building a team, I think it is best for Jaylen and Tatum to stick together.  Rookie Cunningham will not be as good as Brown next year, nor likely would 2nd year Cunningham be as good as Jaylen in two years.

[Jvalin]

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

The allure of potential is a dangerous thing.

Especially when you already have a kid who is clearly still trending upwards and about to play in his first ASG tomorrow night.

The allure of potential is what made Danny draft Brown. He was super raw at the time. Cunningham is the exact opposite. He's an unselfish, crafty ball handler who has the size of a SF/small ball PF! Barring injuries, the kid is on his way to become a superstar!

Agree to disagree regarding Brown's upward trend. Imo, Brown has peaked. I elaborated on this in the previous page of this thread.

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call the best prospect in three years a “generational talent.”  All that said, while as a pure value move I would make that trade for the Celtics, in terms of building a team, I think it is best for Jaylen and Tatum to stick together.  Rookie Cunningham will not be as good as Brown next year, nor likely would 2nd year Cunningham be as good as Jaylen in two years.

It's just a matter of timing. Let me put it this way. People kept saying that Zion is a generational talent. Personally speaking, I'd take Cunningham over Zion.

For the record, rookie Tatum led the C's to the ECF and lost in 7 games to LeBron and the Cavs. I really think Cunningham is a better prospect than Tatum was.

[GreenlyGreeny]

The more I watch and learn about Cunningham, the more convinced I am that he’s going to be the next Magic Johnson. At this point, I’d trade Jaylen for him. I’d even consider Tatum for him. He’s going to be that good AND, most importantly, Cunningham + either Brown or Tatum = enough salary cap room in 2023 (after Walker’s contract expires) to add an elite free agent to build a Big 3 before Cunningham’s $’s explode. There is no longer a way to build a Big 3 without adding the third piece when one of the three is ona rookie contract. That dynamic is being overlooked here.

Tatum + Cunningham + Jokic = Multiple titles and the Celtics own the 2020s the way they owned the 1960s

[PAOBoston]

The more I watch and learn about Cunningham, the more convinced I am that he’s going to be the next Magic Johnson. At this point, I’d trade Jaylen for him. I’d even consider Tatum for him. He’s going to be that good AND, most importantly, Cunningham + either Brown or Tatum = enough salary cap room in 2023 (after Walker’s contract expires) to add an elite free agent to build a Big 3 before Cunningham’s $’s explode. There is no longer a way to build a Big 3 without adding the third piece when one of the three is ona rookie contract. That dynamic is being overlooked here.

Tatum + Cunningham + Jokic = Multiple titles and the Celtics own the 2020s the way they owned the 1960s

They said Simmons was the next Magic Johnson. How did that turn out? Would you trade JB for Simmons right now? You know what you have with JB at this point. To trade an established player for an unknown is a step backwards.

[Celtics2021]

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call the best prospect in three years a “generational talent.”  All that said, while as a pure value move I would make that trade for the Celtics, in terms of building a team, I think it is best for Jaylen and Tatum to stick together.  Rookie Cunningham will not be as good as Brown next year, nor likely would 2nd year Cunningham be as good as Jaylen in two years.

It's just a matter of timing. Let me put it this way. People kept saying that Zion is a generational talent. Personally speaking, I'd take Cunningham over Zion.

For the record, rookie Tatum led the C's to the ECF and lost in 7 games to LeBron and the Cavs. I really think Cunningham is a better prospect than Tatum was.

If a guy is a "generational" player, he can't be merely the best guy in 3 years, and there can't be someone either in the next draft (Chet Holmgren) or in two drafts (Emoni "The Next LeBron" Bates) who are also perceived as equal or superior.  He's a legit #1 prospect, which is different from the players available in 2020, but that's not the same thing as how Emoni Bates is widely perceived.

Also, I don't know how you can argue that Jaylen Brown has reached his peak already, when he has relative to last year improved from 2, 3, FTs, is getting to the line more frequently, and has doubled his assist rate, and is only 24.  The likelihood that a healthy Cade Cunningham is better than a healthy Jaylen Brown next year has to be 20:1 at best.  Normally you don't expect to see an efficiency jump (as measured by TS%) when a guy is taking a career high in shots and has a career low on shots that come via assist.  Combine that with an assist percentage that doubles while turnovers stay flat -- that is clearly someone still on an upward trajectory.

[Donoghus]

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

The allure of potential is a dangerous thing.

Especially when you already have a kid who is clearly still trending upwards and about to play in his first ASG tomorrow night.

The allure of potential is what made Danny draft Brown. He was super raw at the time. Cunningham is the exact opposite. He's an unselfish, crafty ball handler who has the size of a SF/small ball PF! Barring injuries, the kid is on his way to become a superstar!

Agree to disagree regarding Brown's upward trend. Imo, Brown has peaked. I elaborated on this in the previous page of this thread.

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call the best prospect in three years a “generational talent.”  All that said, while as a pure value move I would make that trade for the Celtics, in terms of building a team, I think it is best for Jaylen and Tatum to stick together.  Rookie Cunningham will not be as good as Brown next year, nor likely would 2nd year Cunningham be as good as Jaylen in two years.

It's just a matter of timing. Let me put it this way. People kept saying that Zion is a generational talent. Personally speaking, I'd take Cunningham over Zion.

For the record, rookie Tatum led the C's to the ECF and lost in 7 games to LeBron and the Cavs. I really think Cunningham is a better prospect than Tatum was.

I have an extremely hard time believing that Jaylen Brown has peaked at the ripe, old age of 24.

Especially seeing his growth from just last season.

[Jvalin]

This is nuts.

What is nuts is the level of homerism on this blog. Cade Cunningham is a generational talent. If you ask me, he's the best draft eligible player since Luka. He's 6'8'' with a 7' wingspan. He's an unselfish ball handler with elite BBIQ! He can create shots for himself. He can create shots for his teammates. He's a PnR maestro. He's a terrific shooter. He can shoot 3s off the dribble. He defends multiple positions. He's a very good rebounder. He can play on or off the ball. He can do it all! He literally has zero weaknesses! Can't think of another player like him. He's truly special! Cunningham and Tatum would dominate the league for the next decade!

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call the best prospect in three years a “generational talent.”  All that said, while as a pure value move I would make that trade for the Celtics, in terms of building a team, I think it is best for Jaylen and Tatum to stick together.  Rookie Cunningham will not be as good as Brown next year, nor likely would 2nd year Cunningham be as good as Jaylen in two years.

It's just a matter of timing. Let me put it this way. People kept saying that Zion is a generational talent. Personally speaking, I'd take Cunningham over Zion.

For the record, rookie Tatum led the C's to the ECF and lost in 7 games to LeBron and the Cavs. I really think Cunningham is a better prospect than Tatum was.

If a guy is a "generational" player, he can't be merely the best guy in 3 years, and there can't be someone either in the next draft (Chet Holmgren) or in two drafts (Emoni "The Next LeBron" Bates) who are also perceived as equal or superior.  He's a legit #1 prospect, which is different from the players available in 2020, but that's not the same thing as how Emoni Bates is widely perceived.

Also, I don't know how you can argue that Jaylen Brown has reached his peak already, when he has relative to last year improved from 2, 3, FTs, is getting to the line more frequently, and has doubled his assist rate, and is only 24.  The likelihood that a healthy Cade Cunningham is better than a healthy Jaylen Brown next year has to be 20:1 at best.  Normally you don't expect to see an efficiency jump (as measured by TS%) when a guy is taking a career high in shots and has a career low on shots that come via assist.  Combine that with an assist percentage that doubles while turnovers stay flat -- that is clearly someone still on an upward trajectory.

With all due respect, this logic makes zero sense. Jordan, Dream, Barkley and Stockton were all drafted in the same draft. Magic and Bird were drafted a year apart. Duncan and KG were drafted 2 years apart. I could go on and on. Does this mean that they weren't generational players?

Brown mostly relies on athleticism rather than craftiness. He's an explosive wing who has suddenly lost part of his athleticism due to tendonitis. It seems like he's now trying to adjust his game. Imo, we saw his peak prior to the tendonitis diagnosis. Again, I expanded on this in the previous page.

I would argue he ain't the same player since he got diagnosed with patellar tendonitis. He even admitted that he isn't 100% healthy.

''To me, being in the dunk contest wasn’t the best decision for me and my body at the time right now. (...) My eyes are down the stretch and getting 100 percent healthy which I haven’t been for a while and trying to continue to get better. (...) I don’t want to think about my knee or anything. It feels a lot better after a win of course''.

Imo, Brown has peaked. He's an explosive wing who's now trying to adjust his game because of tendonitis. It seems like he's passing the ball more. He's attacking the basket less frequently. He ain't attempting many dunks. This may be an ongoing issue for him throughout his career. Here's a quote from Ainge:

“We’re concerned. Jaylen has tendonitis in his knee. I played 14 years with tendonitis in my knee, it flares up, it just comes and goes.”

[gouki88]

I’d consider reading Brown in the right package for an established star, not some 19 year old kid.

This.

Yeah, this is sort of where I fall too. We'd be trading Brown for a gamble, where the pick most likely will never be as good as Brown.

Also, the whole "Brown has peaked" thing is absolutely crazy to me. We're talking about a wing who has made almost unforeseen progress with his ball-handling, shooting and playmaking in general, and he's peaked because he has tendonitis?? You can't be serious, tendonitis is not some nail in the coffin