The Boston Celtics’ hopes of defending their NBA championship were dashed when Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks. This season was always going to be the Celtics’ final with this core group of players, given to the luxury tax charge and the second apron, and adjustments are likely.
Rumors have circulated about who the Celtics will part with. You’d expect Tatum to be untouchable, but that may not be the case with his co-star Jaylen Brown.
While the Celtics would prefer to keep Brown, he and Derrick White are their only two valuable trade assets, aside from Tatum. Jrue Holiday, 34, earns more than $30 million a year, while Kristaps Porzingis is entering the final year of his contract in 2025-26.
If the Celtics want to retool and extend their championship window, trading Brown could be the way to go. He has a lot of value in the league and should command a sizable fee. We created a hypothetical trade in which Brown ends up with the San Antonio Spurs as a result of an offer the Celtics can’t refuse.
Proposed Trade Details:
Boston Celtics receive: Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, No. 2 pick in 2025, 2027 first-round selection, and 2030 first-round pick.
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Jaylen Brown
Celtics Add Talented Youngsters to Their Ranks
With this transaction, the Celtics get some promising young talent. Stephon Castle is the headline performer, having won Rookie of the Year in 2025.
Castle averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game with the Spurs in 2024-25 season. He has the potential to be a solid two-way guard in the coming years and would be an excellent complement to Tatum.
Devin Vassell, on the other hand, would be an effective scorer from the shooting guard position. In 2024-25, Vassell averaged 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He is also an effective defender who may serve as a team’s third or fourth option.
Jeremy Sochan would be an excellent addition to the defensive end of the court. During 2024-25, Sochan averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game.
Along with these three, the Celtics will receive a pair of future draft picks, as well as the No. 2 pick in 2025.
They would add Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, or VJ Edgecombe to their roster, and it is reasonable to say that the roster will be entirely retooled as a result of this agreement.
As much as the Celtics adore Brown, they would find it difficult to pass up this opportunity. They aren’t compromising their near future with this contract, either, as next season will be a wash due to Tatum’s injury.
The Spurs Create A Big Three.
The Spurs are giving up a lot in this trade, but they are gaining a proven winner to join Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, scored an average of 22.2 points. In 2024-25, the averages are 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.3 steals per game.
By trading for Fox earlier this year, the Spurs made it clear that they are not going to remain pat. They want to win now, and Brown would undoubtedly aid in that effort. A big three of these two, plus Wembanyama, can make an impact in a loaded Western Conference.
In 2024-25, Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.8 blocked shots per game for the Spurs. He was on track to win the DPOY title, but he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis during the All-Star break.
Fox, meanwhile, averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game since being traded to the Spurs. We only saw him and Wembanyama play together for five games before the Frenchman was sidelined for the season. The Spurs went 2-3 in those games, but you’d expect these two to be on the same page once they start training camp together.
Would the Spurs have a chance to win it all with these trio? Well, it all hinges on Wembanyama’s progress. If he continues to improve next season, the Spurs will be in serious business.
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