The Portland Trail Blazers would have serious interest in acquiring All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown if the Boston Celtics make him available, league sources told Sam Amick of The Athletic, even as Portland has eased off an aggressive pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 29-year-old wing is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 71 games while shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.7% from 3-point range on 5.7 attempts per game, good for a 57.3% true shooting mark. That production is the kind of two-way scoring punch the Blazers have lacked on the wing.
Amick reports that the Blazers do not appear to be chasing Antetokounmpo hard at the moment, with the cooling tied to two factors: his reluctance to sign an extension in Portland and his ability to reach free agency in 2027. Brown, by contrast, has three years left on his contract, which gives Portland more long-term certainty if it lands a star wing rather than a player who could leave within a year.
How Jaylen Brown Could Become Available
Brown’s availability hinges on Boston’s bigger-picture decisions. The Celtics have worked to keep his name out of trade speculation, but he would almost certainly have to headline any package that brings Antetokounmpo to Boston.
Amick reports that the Celtics would be comfortable with a one-for-one swap of the two stars, though it is widely believed that Brown alone would not be enough for the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis trade. It remains unclear how aggressive Boston, which can trade up to three first-round picks, is prepared to be in sweetening such an offer.
What Boston Does if It Stands Pat
If the Celtics hold onto their duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum, they figure to look elsewhere to upgrade the roster. League sources told Amick that Boston is among many teams interested in Trey Murphy III, the wing the Celtics and others have targeted from the New Orleans Pelicans. That path would keep Brown in Boston and, by extension, off the market that Portland is monitoring.
For the Blazers, the situation underscores a preference shaped as much by contracts as by talent. Antetokounmpo’s uncertain timeline made a costly pursuit harder to justify, while Brown’s three remaining years offer the kind of cost certainty a team can plan around.
