Celtics Should Only Trade Jaylen Brown For Damian Lillard Or Karl-Anthony Towns
May 17 2021, Published 5:58 a.m. ET
Boston Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown is expected to be one of the most intriguing names on the trade market in the 2021 offseason. As of now, Brown and the Celtics are focused on fully dominating the Eastern Conference and winning an NBA title. However, if they fall short of achieving their main goal in the 2020-21 NBA season, Celtics president of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ainge could finally explore the possibility of trading Brown this summer.
Two Superstars Who Are Worth Trading Jaylen Brown
In a recent article, Mark Nilon of Fansided's Hardwood Houdini talked about the Celtics and the idea of parting ways with Brown in the 2021 offseason. Like most Celtics fans, Nilon is also strongly against the idea of trading Brown this summer. Brown is yet to reach the level of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard, but he has the potential to become one of the greatest players in league history.
Nilon believes that the Celtics should only think of moving Brown for two superstars - Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Karl-Anthony Towns Addresses Celtics' Frontcourt Woe
Trading Brown for Towns is indeed worth exploring for the Celtics. The potential deal wouldn't only allow the Celtics to replace Brown with another superstar that perfectly fits the timeline Jayson Tatum, but it would also address their major frontcourt problem.
Towns would boost the Celtics' performance on both ends of the floor and give them an All-Star caliber center who is capable of knocking down shots from beyond the arc. This season, the 25-year-old big man continues to post impressive numbers, averaging 24.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from the three-point range, per ESPN.
Celtics Get An Established Superstar In Damian Lillard
Meanwhile, if they decide to engage in a blockbuster deal with the Trail Blazers, the Celtics would be getting a more established superstar in Lillard. Nilon believes that pairing Lillard with Tatum would put the Celtics back into a "legitimate championship contention."
-"Adding the lead-guard in Lillard to a team already rostering Jayson Tatum could prove to be lethal and if the Cs were to ever give up Brown (for the one billionth time, we’re not advocating for them to do so), getting a return package centered around him would be the ideal scenario."
"Adding the lead-guard in Lillard to a team already rostering Jayson Tatum could prove to be lethal and if the Cs were to ever give up Brown (for the one billionth time, we’re not advocating for them to do so), getting a return package centered around him would be the ideal scenario."
Trades Involving Karl-Anthony Towns & Damian Lillard Less Likely To Happen
Trading Towns and Lillard for a young and promising talent like Brown is undeniably something that the Timberwolves and the Trail Blazers should consider, especially if they are planning to undergo a full-scale rebuild this summer. However, a trade that would send Towns or Lillard to Beantown only has a minimal chance of happening in the 2021 offseason.
As of now, the Timberwolves and the Trail Blazers haven't shown any indication that they are planning to move their franchise players. The only way that they would consider trading Towns and Lillard is if either superstar expresses their desire to leave.
