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Jaylen Brown has been passed over yet again.
Just a few days after the Bucks chose the Heat’s trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo over the Celtics’ offer headlined by Brown, the Timberwolves traded for another player instead of Brown.
Minnesota discussed the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, but instead pivoted to Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball since it felt he fit the roster better and would require less compensation, according to The Athletic.
The Timberwolves acquired Ball and Josh Green for Naz Reid, one first-round pick and three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.
The Bucks’ previously opted for Miami’s offer built around young players and first-round draft picks over the Celtics’ package centered on Brown.
That Brown would be mentioned in another trade in such quick fashion only raises questions about whether he will be with the team come Opening Night this fall.
Boston President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens did not give a concrete answer on whether the guard would remain with the team earlier in the week.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens told reporters Tuesday night. “I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as this is our team.”
Brown shined this past season while serving as the team’s No. 1 option for most of the year with Jayson Tatum sidelined, calling it his favorite season of his career.
He finished fourth most in the NBA with 28.7 points per game.
There is at least one possible trade partner that could still make sense for the Celtics, though.
The Celtics have long been interested in the Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, according to SI’s Chris Mannix, and could use a good frontcourt presence to help deepen the roster.
Brown would provide Cleveland with another capable scorer alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
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