In the wake of Boston's collapse in Game 7 the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals and the end of the NBA season, the questions have begun. When it comes to the players, the primary focus has turned to Jaylen Brown. The Celtics rolled through the regular season, winning 57 games and taking the No. 2 seed in the East. It was their most wins since their 2008 title run. 

But this season ended well short of a championship. And the team regressed after taking the Golden State Warriors to six games in the Finals in 2022. Brown has been a critical piece of the Celtics’ roster since he was taken with the third overall pick in the 2016 draft. But he’s never been atop the team’s marquee because of the presence of Jayson Tatum. 

But after Tatum got hurt on the first offensive drive of Game 7, Brown wilted against the Heat. He scored 19 points in Game 7 but gave away the ball 8 times. Brown was given the opportunity to carry the Celtics without Tatum being effective. Instead, he pulled an all-time whiff. 

The fact we are even discussing the possibility of Brown departing speaks to how much things went south for Boston this postseason. Brown was in line for the richest deal in NBA history, a five-year, $295 million supermax deal (and still could be) after being named All-NBA second team in May (for what it's worth, Tatum is eligible for a supermax deal next summer).

It was assumed Brown clearing the bar for the supermax contract would both clear his mind and allow him to fully focus on his play. That didn't happen. Instead, the Celtics collapsed in epic fashion, which has created more questions than answers around the future of Brown. ESPN's Zach Lowe said on his podcast during the Heat series that, "There would be robust demand for Jaylen Brown" if the Celtics explored the trade market.

Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has provided his hypothetical NBA futures odds on Brown's team for the 2023-24 season.

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Jaylen Brown 2023 Team Odds

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Brown Wilts Against Heat – Opens Door For Exit

Brown has always felt secondary in Boston, even though he was there before Tatum.  As a rookie, he worked his way into the starting lineup. But the team took Tatum at No. 3 in the 2017 draft. And it’s been “Tatum and Brown” ever since. Brown’s game matured during the regular season as he made the All-Star team. He averaged 26.6 points per game. 

His ability to score and take pressure off Tatum was a pivotal part of Boston’s run to the 2022 Finals and the team’s regular-season success this season. But at the same time, there have always been questions around the long-term viability of a team with players that are so similar in skillset.

The chemistry issues between Tatum and Brown were never more evident during the Eastern Conference Finals, a series in which Brown struggled mightily and, at one point, suggested he needed to "demand the ball more."

In the first three games vs. Miami, Brown (who to be fair was playing with an elbow injury suffered in Game 1) was outscored by both Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin, neither of whom was drafted. He shot a visually impaired 37.7% from the floor. In Games 2 and 3, he rode a 13-for-40 shooting slide, while missing 13 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc. Martin, who should have be MVP, averaged 19.3 points in the Eastern Conference Finals. Brown averaged 19 on 43% shooting - including an atrocious 17.6% (6-for-34) from 3.  

And Brown's implosion extended to his post-game remarks. After Grant Williams chirped at Jimmy Butler in Game 2, Brown failed to defend his teammate, in essence siding with Butler, by offering a terse “next question” when asked about the clash. 

Until the Heat series, it was considered a lock that the Celtics would keep Brown in a Boston uniform until he was 32 (he’s 26 now) with the five-year supermax extension as soon as this summer. But Boston’s collapse has shattered one of the top two organizations in NBA history. Recriminations have spread among players and fans. The owner apparently yelled at the coach during the Game 3 blowout. 

And the long knives came out with reports that the players never accepted nor got over the firing of Ime Udoka before the season. 

Brown has been the subject of trade rumors the past two seasons, mostly in deals involving Kevin Durant. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said Brown “wasn’t going anywhere” before the trade deadline. And he didn’t. 

But the NBA world has changed since then, especially as far as the Celtics are concerned. 

Interest will be high if Brown is made available by Boston. 

Which Team Might Trade For Jaylen Brown?

The Houston Rockets have the most money to spend this off-season and a desire to become a contender sooner than later. They've been linked to the biggest-name free agents, including James Harden, and have the capital to make a splash with a trade as well. Brown also played for Rockets' coach Ime Udoka when Udoka coached the Celtics. 

The Los Angeles Clippers may be seeking a change, with the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George combo not meeting expectations so far. George could be moved, though would that create a similar logjam on the court that Tatum and Brown are fighting through? 

Portland was initially considered an option, but now falls into longshot territory after Damian Lillard let it be known through the media that he doesn't want to go to Boston.

The Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks are also expected to be busy trying to make major changes. If the Mavs don't bring back Kyrie Irving, their pocketbook opens. The Bulls seek a new direction of sorts after underachievements, while the Hawks have decisions to make regarding Trae Young and their future direction. 

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