It's going to be a strange year this year 25-26

[Vermont Green]

I still believe the team should trade Brown. Best way to get the assets needed to build another contender because Tatum, Brown, and White is not good enough especially with what the rest of the roster will look like (the only caveat is winning the lottery this year). Boston has no real way to get better except late 1st round picks after this next draft.  Trading Brown will allow the team to get younger and more draft picks, and will also allow a full tank this year to cash in on what is supposed to be a draft filled with high end prospects at the top. Boston needs 1 of those guys to have any chance at winning again in the near term.

To me, it comes down to what are you trading Brown for.  If it is for good players that you can put around Tatum in 2026, great.  If it is for draft picks who might be good by 2028, maybe, you are sacrificing years of Tatum's window.  That makes no sense to me.  You may as well trade Tatum too.

high level draft picks have actual and real trade value though. 1 too 5 pick is worth more than several late 1st round picks.

This Houston trade I'd consider

Brown, Tillman

for

VanVleet, Sheppard, Adams, Eason, Tate, 27 1st (2 most favorable of BOS, BKN, PHX), 29 1st, 31 1st

That is a draft picks centered trade, but Sheppard has talent and VV and Adams would be good with Tatum in 26-27 or could be the salary along with the draft picks for a star. 

Atlanta is another realistic trade possibility with Johnson, Risacher, and a future 1st or something like that. 

I'm sure there are others that make sense that can keep Boston in it or provide the assets that can be used to keep Boston in it.

For me, I just think this run is over with this group unless they win the lottery this year (which will be hard without trading Brown)

OK, so if you can trade Brown for picks and players that don't really help, and then trade the picks and players that don't help for actual good players.   I am open to that,  but I think it is risky.  I would be fine with sacrificing 2025-26 to shuffle the players around so that by 2026-27, you have a better overall squad to put around Tatum.  But there is no guarantee you get to that point with this scenario.

I don't think any of those players from HOU you propose meet that criteria (good plays to put around Tatum to make us better than we are now).  That means you would have to make several more trades to just get back to as good as you are now with Brown, or better.  You may end up sacrificing more than just 2025-26 waiting for players to develop and/or actually good players to become available for subsequent trades.

There was an ATL trade proposed, that seemed reasonable, could potentially meet my criteria.  And if Brown were part of a deal to get Giannis, great.  But I don't like this HOU idea.  At least not right now.  If the trade of Brown does not make us better day 1 of 2026-27 season, I don't want to trade Brown.