Welcome to the Deal or No Deal series where we break down if the Celtics should bring back a certain player for the 2025-26 NBA season. If a player is under “Deal” then the player should not be brought back. If “No Deal” then the player should be brought back.
The first player were going to highlight is Jaylen Brown. Brown was coming off of a season where he won both Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP on the road to the Celtics 2024 NBA championship. The 2025 season was a bit of a step back however In 63 games, he averaged 22.2 PPG, 5.8 REB, 4.5 AST on 46% shooting from the field, 32.4% shooting from three, and 76% from the free throw line.
Brown took a leap when it came to his playmaking, averaging a career high in assists. However, his shooting regressed, having the lowest three point percentage and second lowest field goal percentage of his career. These dips in shooting could have been caused by some of the injuries that he sustained over the course of the year as he missed periods of time with a left hip flexor strain, a right shoulder strain, and a torn right meniscus that he played with in the last month of the regular season and the playoffs.
Brown is no stranger to trade rumors. I feels like he has been in them for seemingly his entire career. Whether its Kevin Durant, Paul George, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown’s name was always seen as the main piece in return but the Celtics have never wavered in their support of him.
When Brad Stevens was asked about his confidence level in Jaylen Brown being the number one option for the Celtics, he said: “I have full faith that anytime you have one of those guys on the court you have a good chance to win. I have full faith in Jaylen.”
Asked Brad Stevens about his confidence level in Jaylen Brown leading the team next year without Jayson Tatum:
“I have full faith in Jaylen.” pic.twitter.com/TPXLrbLAHo
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 19, 2025
Sounds like this is a pretty simple answer for Jaylen Brown’s future with the Celtics, but say they get a call from a team like the Rockets or Spurs that can offer them a package of young players and picks that is just too much to refuse?
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons proposed a trade with the Rockets that has Brown and Jrue Holiday going to Houston for a package of Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr, Tari Eason, and the 10th Pick in the 2025 Draft. The Spurs could put together a massive package of Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle and the 2nd Pick in the 2025 Draft. Is a package of this magnitude enough for Brad Stevens to pull the trigger on a Jaylen Brown trade?
Verdict: No Deal
No matter the possible trade package out there, I don’t think the Celtics are going to move Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum is going to be out for most next season with a torn Achilles and I just don’t think it’s smart for Boston to make drastic changes to a roster with so much cohesion. When healthy, Brown and Tatum are the best duo in the NBA and I don’t think Brad Stevens has any intentions of breaking that up.
If surgery is needed for his torn meniscus Brown could miss some time to begin the season but if surgery is not needed, he is going to be the number one option for the 2025-26 Boston Celtics and it’s going to be interesting how he responds. I’m hopeful his shooting can bounce back after a dip this year and we should be in for another All-NBA season from Jaylen Brown for the Celtics.
