The Lakers and Celtics would be the favorites in a trade scenario but the situation is fluid. The Celtics started with brighter prospects to offer in trade. It’s now closer with the emergence of the young Lakers and the eclipse of last spring’s breakout stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, with the return of injured veterans. The Celtics were also expected to have a top five pick, Sacramento’s. With the Kings’ amazing 15-13 start, it’s now out of the lottery.
Jaylen Brown Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 10/24/96
Height: 6-7 / 2.01
Weight:225 lbs. / 102.1 kg.
Salary: $5,169,960
Born: 10/24/96
Height: 6-7 / 2.01
Weight:225 lbs. / 102.1 kg.
Salary: $5,169,960
Scott Souza: #Celtics coach Brad Stevens confirms both Jaylen Brown & Gordon Hayward (both sick) are back tonight. Aron Baynes starts for Al Horford (knee). Brown & Hayward remain off bench.
A. Sherrod Blakely: No surprises on the injury report for the #Celtics heading into Friday #Hawks game. Al Horford (knee) and Guerschon Yabusele (ankle) are OUT. Jaylen Brown (illness) is questionable.
Chris Forsberg: Late scratch: Jaylen Brown is out due to illness.
Marcus Smart can’t remember exactly which game it was because so many of Boston’s maddening early season outings blended together into a collage of misery. What he does recall is that after another confounding loss in which his friend Jaylen Brown submitted another confounding performance, Smart felt compelled to express himself. “Hey!” he barked at Brown. “We’re here for you. We want to help. We want to hear from you.” Silence. “Say something! Participate with us! Are you with us?” Brown, his doe eyes widening, looked directly at Smart and nodded. “It’s funny,” Smart says now, still incredulous. “He didn’t say a word.”
Opposing teams have privately used words such as “disjointed” and “detached” to describe him. When the season’s first Real Plus-Minus ratings were released, Brown ranked 417th out of 430 players. The question “What’s wrong with Jaylen Brown?” became a league-wide referendum.
Despite the analytical scrutiny, the incessant trade rumors that have swirled around him, the “tough love” he has endured from teammates and the realization that his own lofty goals will have be tempered for now, Brown says he will continue to fight for himself and his firm belief that he’s an NBA starter. “It’s probably been the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with so far in my career,” Brown says. “Just coming from a position where you had so much responsibility, and now that responsibility is lessened. Expectations have been raised, but your responsibility goes down, so it’s hard to reach those expectations when you aren’t being asked to do as much.
