Celtics' Jayson Tatum injury sets up trade for Cooper Flagg in crazy blockbuster idea

The Jayson Tatum injury is anticipated to accelerate trade talks in Boston.

The Celtics will likely be without Tatum for the entire 2025-26 season after he tore his Achilles on Monday night in the playoffs against the Knicks.

But there's one deal, suggested by former Grizzlies executive John Hollinger, might be the most mind-blowing of all.

The Tatum injury, Hollinger writes, presents the opportunity for the Celtics to explore trading Jaylen Brown to the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and the right to Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.

"Brown is a much easier positional fit next to (Anthony) Davis and (Dereck) Lively," Hollinger writes, "but he's owed $236 million over the next four seasons, and the Celtics' roster gets frighteningly expensive next season. Would Boston mind resetting around a New England native and waiting out a gap year if Tatum needs it to recover? For that matter, would Dallas do this unless it also had considerable capital coming back in addition to Brown?"

MORE: Jayson Tatum's relationship with Kobe Bryant comes into focus after torn Achilles

That last point is particularly interesting. Given Brown's contract, he's likely a less valuable trade piece than Flagg.

Brown would align better with the Mavs' veteran timeline.

Flagg, from Maine, would fit right in with the Celtics. He'd get a rookie year to spread his wings without Tatum, and then in Year 2, they'd figure out how to work together.

Does it seem a bit far fetched? Sure, but Hollinger has been in big trade conversations as a former NBA decision-maker who now writes for The Athletic. If anyone has the pulse of such a moment, it's him.

The NBA is made for blockbuster deals like Brown for Flagg. So why not?

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