Proposed Jaylen Brown Trade Ideas

[Celtics4ever]

Our picks do not hold much value really given our record either.

I would prefer to deal directly with Houston if we are trading Brown.

[Who]

Rockets receive: Brown, Turner
Bucks receive: Sengun, Reed, DFS, 1-2 Celtics picks
Celtics receive: Giannis, Smith

If the Rockets want to compete for a championship, a starting lineup of Turner-Durant-Brown-Thompson-FVV would look pretty good on paper. Having a playoff-tested shooting 5 mitigates a lot of the issues with having Thompson on the court. Plus, this cleans house from a couple of the guys that Durant considered unreliable in his burner account.

Celtics get Giannis, but they also get a young shooting big to pair with him and keep the court open for him and Tatum. Giannis gets to play with the best player he ever has, and the Cetlics compete for championships. Tatum-Smith-Giannis-White-Pritchard is a pretty good starting core.

Bucks get a young All-star big that could flourish as the focal point of their offense. They also get a good young guard that can score and reclamation project in DFS. I prefer this trade package to the one that the Heat are rumored to be offering, and I slightly prefer it to either the Hawks or the Blazers probable offers.

I would rather have Myles Turner than Jabari Smith Jr as a big man pairing for Giannis.

M Turner is a legit center. Jabari isn't. He is a forward. He is a combo forward like Tatum or Siakam. A PF/SF. Jabari isn't comfortable being the defensive anchor / rim protector. He likes to defend on the perimeter. He isn't strong enough physically. He gets overpowered by centers. Both defensively and on the boards.

Giannis could defend centers but I don't know if he would. He certainly doesn't want to. He has always wanted a true center next to him who does that physical work so he doesn't have the wear and tear. And it allows him to roam on defense which is his main strength defensively.

So for those reasons, I see Myles Turner as the better fit with Giannis than Jabari Smith Jr is. 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Rockets receive: Brown, Turner
Bucks receive: Sengun, Reed, DFS, 1-2 Celtics picks
Celtics receive: Giannis, Smith

If the Rockets want to compete for a championship, a starting lineup of Turner-Durant-Brown-Thompson-FVV would look pretty good on paper. Having a playoff-tested shooting 5 mitigates a lot of the issues with having Thompson on the court. Plus, this cleans house from a couple of the guys that Durant considered unreliable in his burner account.

Celtics get Giannis, but they also get a young shooting big to pair with him and keep the court open for him and Tatum. Giannis gets to play with the best player he ever has, and the Cetlics compete for championships. Tatum-Smith-Giannis-White-Pritchard is a pretty good starting core.

Bucks get a young All-star big that could flourish as the focal point of their offense. They also get a good young guard that can score and reclamation project in DFS. I prefer this trade package to the one that the Heat are rumored to be offering, and I slightly prefer it to either the Hawks or the Blazers probable offers.

I would rather have Myles Turner than Jabari Smith Jr as a big man pairing for Giannis.

M Turner is a legit center. Jabari isn't. He is a forward. He is a combo forward like Tatum or Siakam. A PF/SF. Jabari isn't comfortable being the defensive anchor / rim protector. He likes to defend on the perimeter. He isn't strong enough physically. He gets overpowered by centers. Both defensively and on the boards.

Giannis could defend centers but I don't know if he would. He certainly doesn't want to. He has always wanted a true center next to him who does that physical work so he doesn't have the wear and tear. And it allows him to roam on defense which is his main strength defensively.

So for those reasons, I see Myles Turner as the better fit with Giannis than Jabari Smith Jr is.

I would prefer that too. Just a different iteration if Houston is looking to offload some of the players that Durant had problems with.

I'm probably a bit higher on Smith Jr. than I should be. I see a guy that could be comparable to Evan Mobley. He hasn't shown that type of production, but I like the intangibles, how hard he plays, athleticism, and shooting.

[Vermont Green]

Rockets receive: Brown, Turner, (+ Hauser)
Bucks receive: Sengun, Reed, DFS, 1-2 Celtics picks
Celtics receive: Giannis, Smith

I don't believe that trade even works.  BOS would have to send Hauser to HOU to keep BOS under the 1st apron and allow them to take back Smith using the TPE.  It still ends up adding about $14M to BOS cap, eating up a lot of BOS tax room.  Turner makes even more than Smith so if you swap those two, BOS would be flirting with the 1st apron.

I don't mind getting Giannis and Smith for Brown and Hauser and a couple of picks.  Add 1 pick to Brown to equal Giannis and then one to Hauser to equal Smith.  Maybe HOU sends a pick to MIL and this works.  But I don't see BOS taking on that much salary.

[Goldstar88]

Rockets receive: Brown, Turner, (+ Hauser)
Bucks receive: Sengun, Reed, DFS, 1-2 Celtics picks
Celtics receive: Giannis, Smith

I don't believe that trade even works.  BOS would have to send Hauser to HOU to keep BOS under the 1st apron and allow them to take back Smith using the TPE.  It still ends up adding about $14M to BOS cap, eating up a lot of BOS tax room.  Turner makes even more than Smith so if you swap those two, BOS would be flirting with the 1st apron.

I don't mind getting Giannis and Smith for Brown and Hauser and a couple of picks.  Add 1 pick to Brown to equal Giannis and then one to Hauser to equal Smith.  Maybe HOU sends a pick to MIL and this works.  But I don't see BOS taking on that much salary.

That would be a solid return. I like Smith Jr.

[Who]

From the playoff thread, I thought I'd put it here.

Brown for Mitchell, thoughts?

Donovan Mitchell = 29yo will turn 30 in September
Jaylen Brown = 29yo will turn 30 in October

So the same age.

I would bet on Jaylen ageing better than D Mitchell due to Jaylen's superior size. I expect D Mitchell to start declining at an earlier age than Jaylen and decline worse than Jaylen. As D Mitchell's explosive quickness goes, his lack of size will become more of an issue.

D Mitchell also seems to get hurt / play hurt more often in the post-season. He rarely looks fully healthy in the playoffs. That is likely to happen more often in the future as he gets older.

-------------

Donovan Mitchell's regular season vs post-season

RS = Cavs 4 years = 26.7ppg 46.9% FG 19.8 FGA 37.2% 3PT 9.0 3PTA 85.5% FT 5.5 FTA. 5.3 assists per game against 2.6 turnovers per game (2:1 AST:TOV). 4.6rpg 1.5spg 0.4bpg. 60% TS. BPM 5.2.

PS = Cavs 4 years 42gms = 27.3ppg 45.3% FG 21.5 FGA 33% 3PT 8.7 3PT 78.4% FT 6.3 FTA. 4.1 assists per game against 2.6 turnovers (1.57:1.00 AST:TOV). 5rpg 1.5spg 0.3bpg. 56.3% TS. BPM 4.8.

It is interesting how much D Mitchell's numbers have dropped in the playoffs. His FG% goes down (47% to 45%). His 3PT% dropped off a cliff (37% to 33%). Even his FT% went down (85% to 78%). A sizeable drop-off in his AST:TOV ratio as well.

--------------------

Jaylen Brown comparison last 4 years with BOS. They have played the same number of RS games - 271 for Jaylen, 264 for D Mitchell.

RS = BOS 4 years = 25.2ppg 48.3% FG 19.6 FGA 34% 3PT 6.0 3PTA 76.3% FT 5.5 FTA. 4.2 assists per game against 2.9 turnovers per game (1.45:1.00 AST:TOV ratio). 6.3rpg 1.1spg 0.4bpg. 57.3% TS. 1.4 BPM.

PS = BOS 4 years 57 games = 23.3ppg 48.7% FG 18.3 FGA 34.8% 3PT 5.8 3PTA 69.9% FT 5.1 FTA. 3.4 assists per game against 3.2 turnovers per game (1.06:1.00 AST:TOV). 6rpg 1.1spg 0.5bpg. 56.9% TS. 0.7 BPM.

Jaylen's numbers have stayed much more consistent regular season to post-season with the exception of a decrease in assists, increase turnovers, decrease in AST:TOV ratio. Jaylen's FG%, 3PT% and TS% have remained steady despite facing superior defenses in the playoffs than in the regular season.

---------------

So D Mitchell's advantage in TS% in the regular season (60% to 57.3%) has disappeared in the playoffs (57.3% to 56.9%). D Mitchell still has an advantage in assists (4.2apg to 3.4apg) and AST:TOV ratio (1.42 to 1.06) in the playoffs. Neither are anything to write home about. Jaylen gets more rebounds (6rpg to 5rpg) which is to be expected since Jaylen is a SF and D Mitchell a small guard.

---------------

Defense is a big advantage for Jaylen. D Mitchell is about the same level as Payton Pritchard. Jaylen much more valuable and can defend multiple positions at his size at a good level.

[Moranis]

From the playoff thread, I thought I'd put it here.

Brown for Mitchell, thoughts?

Donovan Mitchell = 29yo will turn 30 in September
Jaylen Brown = 29yo will turn 30 in October

So the same age.

I would bet on Jaylen ageing better than D Mitchell due to Jaylen's superior size. I expect D Mitchell to start declining at an earlier age than Jaylen and decline worse than Jaylen. As D Mitchell's explosive quickness goes, his lack of size will become more of an issue.

D Mitchell also seems to get hurt / play hurt more often in the post-season. He rarely looks fully healthy in the playoffs. That is likely to happen more often in the future as he gets older.

-------------

Donovan Mitchell's regular season vs post-season

RS = Cavs 4 years = 26.7ppg 46.9% FG 19.8 FGA 37.2% 3PT 9.0 3PTA 85.5% FT 5.5 FTA. 5.3 assists per game against 2.6 turnovers per game (2:1 AST:TOV). 4.6rpg 1.5spg 0.4bpg. 60% TS. BPM 5.2.

PS = Cavs 4 years 42gms = 27.3ppg 45.3% FG 21.5 FGA 33% 3PT 8.7 3PT 78.4% FT 6.3 FTA. 4.1 assists per game against 2.6 turnovers (1.57:1.00 AST:TOV). 5rpg 1.5spg 0.3bpg. 56.3% TS. BPM 4.8.

It is interesting how much D Mitchell's numbers have dropped in the playoffs. His FG% goes down (47% to 45%). His 3PT% dropped off a cliff (37% to 33%). Even his FT% went down (85% to 78%). A sizeable drop-off in his AST:TOV ratio as well.

--------------------

Jaylen Brown comparison last 4 years with BOS. They have played the same number of RS games - 271 for Jaylen, 264 for D Mitchell.

RS = BOS 4 years = 25.2ppg 48.3% FG 19.6 FGA 34% 3PT 6.0 3PTA 76.3% FT 5.5 FTA. 4.2 assists per game against 2.9 turnovers per game (1.45:1.00 AST:TOV ratio). 6.3rpg 1.1spg 0.4bpg. 57.3% TS. 1.4 BPM.

PS = BOS 4 years 57 games = 23.3ppg 48.7% FG 18.3 FGA 34.8% 3PT 5.8 3PTA 69.9% FT 5.1 FTA. 3.4 assists per game against 3.2 turnovers per game (1.06:1.00 AST:TOV). 6rpg 1.1spg 0.5bpg. 56.9% TS. 0.7 BPM.

Jaylen's numbers have stayed much more consistent regular season to post-season with the exception of a decrease in assists, increase turnovers, decrease in AST:TOV ratio. Jaylen's FG%, 3PT% and TS% have remained steady despite facing superior defenses in the playoffs than in the regular season.

---------------

So D Mitchell's advantage in TS% in the regular season (60% to 57.3%) has disappeared in the playoffs (57.3% to 56.9%). D Mitchell still has an advantage in assists (4.2apg to 3.4apg) and AST:TOV ratio (1.42 to 1.06) in the playoffs. Neither are anything to write home about. Jaylen gets more rebounds (6rpg to 5rpg) which is to be expected since Jaylen is a SF and D Mitchell a small guard.

---------------

Defense is a big advantage for Jaylen. D Mitchell is about the same level as Payton Pritchard. Jaylen much more valuable and can defend multiple positions at his size at a good level.

I guess the question is, how much of the decline from Mitchell in the playoffs is a result of him carrying such a heavy load because he is his team's #1 option, main ball handler, etc. for almost the entirety of his career.  Brown was a #1 option for basically the first part of this season and game 7 this year and game 5 and 6 last year against the Knicks. 

I think they are comparable talent players, but Mitchell is not the same type of player as Tatum. I do think the difference in skill set might elevate the team, especially as I think White and Mitchell would be a strong compliment to each other.  If Giannis is off the table, I'd definitely consider that trade.  Maybe it is just a lateral trade, but maybe not. 

Also, important to remember Donovan Mitchell is the 7th leading scorer per game in playoff history.  Only Jordan, Doncic, Iverson, Durant, West, and Lebron have averaged more than Mitchell's 27.79 ppg.  He is a premier scorer. 

[Who]

Brown for Mitchell, thoughts?

I was wondering what the squads would look like

G: J Harden, (FA - Schroder)
G: S Merrill, M Strus
F: Jaylen, J Tyson
F: E Mobley, D Wade
C: J Allen

Keeping Keon Ellis would be a great move for that squad. He'd be a good fit as a defensive stopper in the backcourt alongside James Harden. K Ellis and Jaylen gives you two plus defenders alongside Harden. The bigs are plus defenders. Dean Wade is a plus defender off the bench. The other bench pieces are "meh" defensively. I went with Sam Merrill as a starter. I think he is quicker than Strus and better able to defend PGs. Neither Harden or Jaylen can defend PGs so the other guy needs to be able to do so.

G: J Harden, (FA - Schroder)
G: Keon Ellis, S Merrill
F: Jaylen, J Tyson
F: E Mobley, D Wade
C: J Allen

If you keep Keon Ellis, I'd get rid of Strus. Have a Keon Ellis / Sam Merrill SG rotation. Jaylen and Tyson at SF. Harden and a backup PG (Schroder).

---------------------------------

I feel like James Harden should really be a SF at this point in his career. He is not quick enough to play guard defensively anymore and he hasn't been for a few years now. Harden has the size to play SF (okayish height, good strength, good length). Jaylen is also best at SF. I don't think he is as quick as he was a few years ago - as well equipped to defend SGs full time anymore.

I am not loving Harden next to Jaylen. Harden looks like a weak link for Cleveland no matter what they do. Whether they try to keep their core together. Whether they trade E Mobley for Giannis. Or in this idea of D Mitchell for Jaylen.

---------------------------------

G: D White, Pritchard
G: D Mitchell, Baylor
F: Hauser, J Walsh
F: Tatum, Hugo
C: Queta, (FA - Vooch)

That would leave a sizeable hole at SF. Hauser is the best man to fill it. J Walsh or Hugo would have to prove themselves reliable 3 point shooters to unseat Hauser.

LeBron would be nice to fill that forward slot

Maybe John Collins at PF with Tatum sliding back to SF.

I don't feel good about that team. A small backcourt. Two 6-1 guards in Mitchell and Pritchard. A finesse SF. Hauser doesn't bring physicality. Tatum is the only reliable forward there. The only guy to help the bigs in the paint. That team looks too small. Too weak (physically). Vulnerable defensively.

I prefer our current group with Jaylen. Easier to build around.

[Moranis]

I'd assume Tatum would be the SF in that trade and the team would add a PF.  I think they need to do that anyway though. They need another big or 2 regardless of any other moves. 

[slamtheking]

From the playoff thread, I thought I'd put it here.

Brown for Mitchell, thoughts?

Donovan Mitchell = 29yo will turn 30 in September
Jaylen Brown = 29yo will turn 30 in October

So the same age.

I would bet on Jaylen ageing better than D Mitchell due to Jaylen's superior size. I expect D Mitchell to start declining at an earlier age than Jaylen and decline worse than Jaylen. As D Mitchell's explosive quickness goes, his lack of size will become more of an issue.

D Mitchell also seems to get hurt / play hurt more often in the post-season. He rarely looks fully healthy in the playoffs. That is likely to happen more often in the future as he gets older.

-------------

Donovan Mitchell's regular season vs post-season

RS = Cavs 4 years = 26.7ppg 46.9% FG 19.8 FGA 37.2% 3PT 9.0 3PTA 85.5% FT 5.5 FTA. 5.3 assists per game against 2.6 turnovers per game (2:1 AST:TOV). 4.6rpg 1.5spg 0.4bpg. 60% TS. BPM 5.2.

PS = Cavs 4 years 42gms = 27.3ppg 45.3% FG 21.5 FGA 33% 3PT 8.7 3PT 78.4% FT 6.3 FTA. 4.1 assists per game against 2.6 turnovers (1.57:1.00 AST:TOV). 5rpg 1.5spg 0.3bpg. 56.3% TS. BPM 4.8.

It is interesting how much D Mitchell's numbers have dropped in the playoffs. His FG% goes down (47% to 45%). His 3PT% dropped off a cliff (37% to 33%). Even his FT% went down (85% to 78%). A sizeable drop-off in his AST:TOV ratio as well.

--------------------

Jaylen Brown comparison last 4 years with BOS. They have played the same number of RS games - 271 for Jaylen, 264 for D Mitchell.

RS = BOS 4 years = 25.2ppg 48.3% FG 19.6 FGA 34% 3PT 6.0 3PTA 76.3% FT 5.5 FTA. 4.2 assists per game against 2.9 turnovers per game (1.45:1.00 AST:TOV ratio). 6.3rpg 1.1spg 0.4bpg. 57.3% TS. 1.4 BPM.

PS = BOS 4 years 57 games = 23.3ppg 48.7% FG 18.3 FGA 34.8% 3PT 5.8 3PTA 69.9% FT 5.1 FTA. 3.4 assists per game against 3.2 turnovers per game (1.06:1.00 AST:TOV). 6rpg 1.1spg 0.5bpg. 56.9% TS. 0.7 BPM.

Jaylen's numbers have stayed much more consistent regular season to post-season with the exception of a decrease in assists, increase turnovers, decrease in AST:TOV ratio. Jaylen's FG%, 3PT% and TS% have remained steady despite facing superior defenses in the playoffs than in the regular season.

---------------

So D Mitchell's advantage in TS% in the regular season (60% to 57.3%) has disappeared in the playoffs (57.3% to 56.9%). D Mitchell still has an advantage in assists (4.2apg to 3.4apg) and AST:TOV ratio (1.42 to 1.06) in the playoffs. Neither are anything to write home about. Jaylen gets more rebounds (6rpg to 5rpg) which is to be expected since Jaylen is a SF and D Mitchell a small guard.

---------------

Defense is a big advantage for Jaylen. D Mitchell is about the same level as Payton Pritchard. Jaylen much more valuable and can defend multiple positions at his size at a good level.

I guess the question is, how much of the decline from Mitchell in the playoffs is a result of him carrying such a heavy load because he is his team's #1 option, main ball handler, etc. for almost the entirety of his career.  Brown was a #1 option for basically the first part of this season and game 7 this year and game 5 and 6 last year against the Knicks. 

I think they are comparable talent players, but Mitchell is not the same type of player as Tatum. I do think the difference in skill set might elevate the team, especially as I think White and Mitchell would be a strong compliment to each other.  If Giannis is off the table, I'd definitely consider that trade.  Maybe it is just a lateral trade, but maybe not. 

Also, important to remember Donovan Mitchell is the 7th leading scorer per game in playoff history.  Only Jordan, Doncic, Iverson, Durant, West, and Lebron have averaged more than Mitchell's 27.79 ppg.  He is a premier scorer.

you've been pushing that narrative for years -- 2024 proved that theory wrong.   

Mitchell may be a more dynamic scorer than JB but we've seen that JB has a strong offensive repertoire as well.  He also plays much better defense than Mitchell and has size that Mitchell will never have. 

I'll keep JB. 

[Vermont Green]

I would have had Mitchell ahead of Brown overall up until last season.  Last season, Brown made a leap and Mitchell continued show he wears down in the playoffs.  Brown is still getting better, Mitchell is not (I know they are the same age).  Both made 2nd team All-NBA, which is fair, but Brown got more votes, which I think is also fair.  Mitchell makes a little less money ($53.8 vs. $57.1).

So no, I would not trade Brown for Mitchell.