Jaylen Brown Idea to get completely out of the tax with great Reset

[Hawkeye199]

The Boston Celtics are no strangers to bold moves. From trading Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to drafting Jayson Tatum via Brooklyn?s infamous pick, Boston?s front office has consistently balanced contention with long-term vision.

Now, with Jaylen Brown entering year two of his $304 million supermax contract, Jayson Tatum sidelined with a lingering ankle injury, and the new CBA imposing punishing restrictions on tax-paying teams, the Celtics once again face a pivotal decision.

A proposed three-team trade involving the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets may be the opportunity Boston needs to reset financially, retool competitively, and plan for a sustainable future?all while buying time to regroup during Tatum?s absence.

The Proposed Deal
Boston Celtics Receive:

Zaccharie Risacher (SF, 6'8", No. 1 pick in 2024)
2025 1st-Round Pick via Sacramento (#13)
2025 1st-Round Pick from Atlanta (#22)
2029 Unprotected 1st-Round Pick (via Atlanta)
Atlanta Hawks Receive:

Jaylen Brown
Brooklyn Nets Receive:

Terance Mann
Georges Niang
Kobe Bufkin
Dominick Barlow
2025 1st-Round Pick (#28 via Atlanta)
Why This Deal Works for the Celtics
✅ Out of the Tax Entirely?No Pressure, No Panic

Perhaps the biggest immediate win: Boston escapes the luxury tax completely. This removes them from the repeater tax cycle and avoids second-apron restrictions that would otherwise handcuff the front office.

By acting now, Boston regains full control over its roster-building tools?mid-level exceptions, trade aggregation, and more. And unlike last-minute tax dumps that sap value, this move puts the Celtics in the driver?s seat.

🌱 Risacher: A High-Upside, Low-Cost Wing for the Modern NBA

Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, is the kind of versatile wing every team wants. At 6?8? with elite movement shooting and switchable defense, he?s a seamless fit in Boston?s system and provides the team with a younger, cheaper replacement on the wing.

Best of all? He?s on a rookie deal for the next three years?perfect for navigating cap flexibility in a new CBA world.

📉 Retool While Tatum Recovers

With Jayson Tatum expected to miss extended time due to an offseason ankle procedure, the Celtics are unlikely to sprint out of the gates next season. This trade gives them the freedom to pivot, develop younger talent, and integrate new pieces without the urgency to chase early wins.

By the time Tatum returns at full strength, the Celtics could have a deeper, more flexible roster and a clearer sense of which young players are ready to contribute. This ?gap year? becomes an opportunity?not a liability.

🎯 Draft Control: Picks to Move Up or Reload

With the #13 and #22 picks in this year?s draft, Boston can:

Trade up into the top 10 to target an elite prospect
Draft two ready-to-play rookies to strengthen the rotation
Use the picks as assets in a future deadline trade
Add in Atlanta?s 2029 unprotected first, and Boston builds an asset base that gives them long-term optionality. This trade lays the groundwork for the next great Celtics core without abandoning the current one.

The Bigger Picture: Still in the Fight
Despite moving Jaylen Brown, Boston remains a dangerous team:

Jrue Holiday and Derrick White form arguably the league?s best defensive backcourt
Kristaps Porziņģis brings unique scoring and rim protection
Risacher, Payton Pritchard, and a wave of young talent offer fresh legs and hungry energy
By the time Tatum returns, the team could have a fully integrated, cap-compliant roster that?s both battle-tested and rejuvenated.

Why Atlanta and Brooklyn Say Yes
Atlanta:
They acquire a two-time All-Star in Jaylen Brown to pair with Trae Young, signaling a win-now direction and giving the team a reliable two-way scorer under contract for years.

Brooklyn:
The Nets gain depth and upside in Mann, Bufkin, and Barlow, along with a late first-round pick. It?s a smart return for a team gradually repositioning around its young core.

Final Thoughts: A Strategic Reset, Not a Rebuild
This deal lets Boston step back just enough to leap forward.

They get out of the tax, avoid future roster penalties, add a potential star in Risacher, collect three first-round picks, and ride out Tatum?s injury with a roster that can still compete.

For Brad Stevens and the Celtics, it?s the kind of forward-thinking move that protects the present while securing the future.

The Celtics don?t need to trade Jaylen Brown?but this deal ensures they won?t have to sacrifice flexibility or depth later. It?s a retool, a regroup, and a reset?all rolled into one.

[blink]

and then JT asks for a trade the next day.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I appreciate the time you put into this, but i don't like it.

We just aren't getting enough here. If Risachar was a bit better of a prospect or had a better rookie season, and if we were getting a top 5 pick in this draft, it's something I could talk myself into.

The core of this trade is trading a proven all-star and finals MVP in the prime of his career and locked up on a long-term contract for a very raw prospect that at his best might be as good as Brown and a bunch of middling first round picks. On sheer value, it just doesn't get us enough.

I get the value of getting out of the apron, but there are likely many more options to make that work.

[Vermont Green]

Funny, when I read this, I thought it seemed a lot like the Devers trade.  "Dump" a big contract after just a couple of seasons.  Except Brown isn't petulant.  He does whatever the team needs.  I know baseball doesn't have the same salary cap and tax implications of basketball but most people have been howling about trading Devers.

I am not totally opposed to trading Brown.  I don't want to trade Brown, but I understand the situation and realize that something is going to have to give.  But not for this deal.  Maybe if ATL includes another productive player to BOS, say Okongwu, and maybe that means one or two less need to go to BKN.

[Who]

I wonder if this deal has more value as a restructuring trade as indicated above or as a blow it up rebuilding trade.

Essentially trade Jaylen for Risacher and bottoming next season while Tatum is injured. To do that you would need to follow up with trades involving D White, Jrue and Porzingis. Kill next season's squad. Bottom out with a top 5 pick in 2026 draft.

So then you have Risacher (a #1 pick), a top 5 pick in 2026, 3 more 1sts from Atlanta + a collection of assets & picks you get from D White, Zinger and Jrue.

[Who]

How good is Risacher? How good can he become?

Since Jan 01, Risacher averaged 14ppg on 50% FG on 11 shots per game including 40% 3PT% on 5 attempts per game. Those are impressive shooting numbers.

Worrying signals:

* Rebounding numbers. 3.6rpg in 24.6mpg. Not good for a tall athletic SF. Not good for a SF period. Especially bad for such a tall athletic wing. Similar rebounding numbers from Jan 01 onwards.

* Assist numbers. Only 1.2 assists per game on the season. Same from Jan 01. He also averaged 1.2 turnovers per game. So a 1:1 AST:TOV ratio with extremely low assist numbers. Only 1.2 assists in 24.6minutes. So every 20 minutes he gives out an assist.

* Free throw numbers. Only 2.0 FTAs per game in 24.6mpg against 10.4 FGA. Similar numbers from Jan 01. 1.7 FTAs from Jan 01 on 11 FGAs. Below average free throw rate. 19.1% (FTA/FGA). An athletic wing should be up around 30%.

Rebounding and FT numbers indicate a soft finesse based player.

I did like his engagement on defense. He was a rookie so he got beat a lot but the effort was there. He is a willing defender. He will improve with experience. He will become a plus defender in time. He has good speed and excellent height / length at the SF position. Lacks the muscle to play big forward. A finesse forward and a jump-shooting forward.

He does have some nice drives where you could see him improving as an on-ball creator and becoming a 20ppg scorer. So a player with good two-way talent. Limited signs of potential as a rebounder & passer.

[Who]

Does Risacher reminds anyone else of Sean Elliott?

Shooting SF. Slashes a bit. Can defend a bit. Subpar rebounder. Limited passer. Risacher has more handles. Finesse SF.

[JBcat]

The Hawks drafted Risacher to help with wing stability on their team. I don?t think he really has star potential at all. He?s a solid player, but in any other draft he?s not sniffing number 1. Certainly not worthy of being a centerpiece in a Brown trade.