The Boston Celtics were not about to move Jayson Tatum in an potential one-year rental for new Lakers star Anthony Davis. At least, that was the word circulating around Boston this past weekend.
Fellow youngster Jaylen Brown could be a different story. He was said to be involved in trade talks with the Pelicans for Davis.
Now that general manager Danny Ainge and the Celtics find themselves in a less-than-ideal situation, Brown himself could potentially be had at the right price.
According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, teams selecting at the top of Thursday’s NBA Draft are inquiring about Brown’s availability.
It’s not a secret that Boston is attempting to move up in the draft. It has three first-round picks and could be targeting Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland.
With Al Horford likely to leave in free agency and Kyrie Irving apparently heading to Brooklyn, the Celtics are going to have to get creative.
Whether that includes moving Brown for a young piece to team up with Tatum remains to be seen. Though, this would seemingly run counter to what Ainge is attempting to build in Boston.
Among those selecting near the top of the draft, the above-mentioned Pelicans could make sense. They acquired the No. 4 pick from Los Angeles in the Davis trade.
New Orleans was at least interested in a package surrounding Brown in previous trade talks with Boston.
Brown, 22, averaged 13.0 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field last season.