Pistons trade package for Celtics star Jaylen Brown would look like this

The Detroit Pistons were eliminated from the playoffs on Thursday, and now it's time for Cade Cunningham and Co. to figure out how to return much stronger in 2025-26.

Could a blockbuster summer trade with the Boston Celtics be on the menu for Detroit?

Cunningham could use a superstar running mate, and much has been made of Boston's ballooning cap situation ... perhaps the two franchises could help each other out.

No one thinks Celtics GM Brad Stevens is going to trade Jaylen Brown, especially if Boston repeats in June.

The key Celtics players who might get moved if Stevens decides to cut costs are Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis.

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But if Detroit decided to go all-in on Brown anyway and present an offer to Stevens, here's what it might look like:

The Trade

Pistons receive...
- Jaylen Brown

Celtics receive...
- Jalen Duren (expiring) 
- Tobias Harris (expiring) 
- Isaiah Stewart
- 2029 first-round pick
- 2031 first-round pick

Would Stevens consider this package for even a moment? 

The two first-rounders are nice, and Duren, who is amazingly only 21 years old still, showed versus the New York Knicks this playoffs that he has a chance to be a great NBA center due to his elite physical gifts, firey competitiveness, and developing touch.

Celtics centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both entering free agency this summer, and Horford's age is another variable for Stevens to monitor. Getting Duren for one year at just $6.5 million and Stewart at $15 million in each of the next three seasons would beef up Boston's frontline considerably and provide insurance against Horford's age and Porzingis's injury history.

Stewart is only 23 and known around the NBA as a physical enforcer. He'd immediately make the Celtics a lot more rugged up front (as would Duren).

Harris is a veteran who might provide something in one year of service but more so would be a throw-in to make the money work in a Brown trade. 

This deal would completely change the dynamic of Boston's team, of course, but it would also create significant financial flexibility for the Celtics entering the summer of 2027, at which point they would have cap space to bring in another max player to pair with Jayson Tatum if they felt the need to.

Ultimately, keeping Brown is probably the most prudent decision, and if Boston keeps winning, it's the only decision.

This isn't an insulting package by any means from Detroit, though, especially if Duren keeps improving and the Celtics are earnest about cutting costs.

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