Timberwolves ‘explored Jaylen Brown trades,' preferred LaMelo Ball: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes and the NBA Draft are behind us, but the Jaylen Brown trade rumors continue to swirl.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Celtics are “actively engaged in trade talks” surrounding Brown. However, at least one of Brown’s potential suitors no longer appears to be an option.
On Thursday morning, the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Naz Reid and a haul of draft picks and swaps. According to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, Minnesota explored Brown trades with Boston before completing the Ball deal with Charlotte. Ball was the Wolves’ “preferred target,” per O’Connor.
Minnesota preferring Ball over Brown is almost certainly due to the price tag, not the players. The 24-year-old Ball also projects as a better fit alongside superstar Anthony Edwards as a high-scoring, playmaking guard.
The Ball trade could have a ripple effect on Brown trade negotiations. If Ball is worth an impactful big man and a significant haul of draft assets, Brad Stevens and the Celtics should be able to get an even more lucrative package in exchange for the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
Perhaps Stevens will stick with his superstar tandem of Brown and Jayson Tatum, but the Celtics’ president of basketball operations didn’t shut down the trade rumors after Day 1 of the draft.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said. “I’m never going to predict the future, but every indication, everything that I think about over the past few years has been building around those guys, right? So obviously, you never know.
“But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate, a great person to be around. And whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires, or before, there’s a lot to celebrate. We have a great relationship, an open relationship where we talk about everything. But I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as, this is our team.”
Brown is owed $57 million, $61 million, and $65 million over the next three seasons. He will be eligible to sign a two-year, $141.9 million extension on July 26.
