The Boston Celtics might need to seriously think about trading Jaylen Brown, even though it’s not the ideal choice. This has been a recurring discussion throughout Brown’s career, with many questioning whether he and Jayson Tatum can truly coexist as the team’s future cornerstone duo.
Despite a championship, two NBA Finals appearances, and multiple Conference Finals trips, the question remains: Is trading Brown the best way to build a stronger team around Tatum? It’s a tough question to ask, especially considering how successful their partnership has been in dominating the Eastern Conference. However, things have changed since Tatum’s Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs and the team’s reshuffling under new management.
The Celtics made major roster changes in 2025, including moving on from veterans like Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis. There could be more changes coming. With the team’s future uncertain, Boston might explore trading Anfernee Simons, whom they got in the Holiday deal, to add long-term assets.
With the Celtics’ roster in flux, there’s a lot of pressure on Brown to prove himself in the 2025-26 season. He needs to show he can step up and be a key piece for Boston’s future or risk being traded.
Brown, at 28, has been on a steady rise as one of the NBA’s top wings over the past nine seasons. Since 2020, he’s averaged 24.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers per game while shooting 48.3% from the field and 35.4% from three. With Tatum sidelined in 2025-26, Brown will have the chance to take on a bigger role as the team’s primary offensive weapon.
The 2022-23 season showed how capable he is in that role, as he averaged 26.6 points on 49.1% shooting while carrying a heavy workload for a 57-25 Celtics team. Brown earned All-Star and All-NBA Second Team honors and helped Boston reach Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the question about how Brown and Tatum fit as a superstar tandem never fully went away, even after Boston’s championship win in 2024, which was made possible by a deep rotation that masked any concerns.
With the roster reshaped in 2025, the Celtics will likely ask more of Brown and Tatum, and if Brown doesn’t take a step forward, it’s reasonable to think the team might explore trading him for assets that fit better alongside Tatum. Brown would bring in significant trade value, potentially helping Boston reload with more talent. He’ll have a major opportunity to prove he’s a central part of the team’s future, and the pressure’s on for a strong 2025-26 season.
