Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Opens Up About Dealing with Trade Rumors

From the pick the Celtics used to draft him with to chatter about them trading him for Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant, Jaylen Brown's heard his name in trade rumors throughout his career.

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Many Celtics fans were hoping the pick used to select Jaylen Brown third overall in the 2016 draft would go toward acquiring Jimmy Butler, with visions of that move further enticing Kevin Durant to join Boston as a free agent that summer.

The Celtics going in a different direction resulted in their pick getting heavily booed at their draft party. That had nothing to do with Brown, who many of the people expressing their displeasure were likely unfamiliar with as a one-and-done prospect playing on the opposite coast at the University of California, Berkeley. It was about the direction Boston was going in.

While the idea of Butler and Durant starring in Green is enticing, the Celtics repeatedly sticking with Brown has resulted in him and Jayson Tatum leading their franchise to the Eastern Conference Finals three times in their first five years together.

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But along the way, Brown's heard his name in rumors for Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant. The latter came on the heels of the two-time All-Star leading Boston in scoring in the NBA Finals, generating 23.5 points per game.

It's why Celtics' president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, met with him in Los Angeles over the summer and why team owner Wyc Grousbeck assured him as chatter about a Brown for Durant-centered swap reignited shortly before the All-Star break that Boston wasn't trading him.

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In a sit-down interview with Stadium's Shams Charania, Brown conveyed the following about how he handled the rumors surrounding a potential deal that would've sent him to Brooklyn and made Durant a Celtic.

"I just worked. I just got in the gym. I worked on my body, I got better, and that was it. I made sure that I was ready to go to the start this season. I was ready to show people, last year, I had some injuries, hamstring, I missed like 15-20 games last year, and I wanted to make sure that I was fully healthy, and I was ready to go from beginning to end, and that was my ultimate goal. Just to come out and show the world what I was capable of, fully."

Brown's work in the offseason has paid off. He's 26.7 points and 6.8 rebounds this season, which are career highs. He's also dishing out 3.4 assists and averaging a steal per contest.

He's earned his second All-Star Game selection and delivered an All-NBA caliber campaign. Brown becomes eligible for a five-year $290 million supermax extension this summer if the latter comes to fruition.

His doing so is the Celtics' best bet to re-signing Brown before his current contract expires.

Further Reading

Jaylen Brown on His Relationship with Jayson Tatum: 'We’re a Part of Each Other’s Destiny'

Celtics Down a Starter and May Be Without Jaylen Brown vs. Sixers

Will the Celtics Prioritize Push for the 1 Seed or Rest? Joe Mazzulla Sheds Light on Boston's Approach

[Film Room] What the Celtics Did to Slow Down Giannis Antetokounmpo in Blowout vs. Bucks

Jayson Tatum Wasn't Supposed to Play vs. the Jazz, But Celtics' Travel Delay Added to His Motivation to 'Go Through it with the Guys'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Jazz: On a Chippy Night in Boston, Counterpunches Propel the Hosts to Victory

The Celtics are Proud of Their Growth, Including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Maturation: 'I think We're a Better Team'

Former Warriors' Director of Performance Keke Lyles Shares His Perspective on Load Management, Changing Stephen Curry's Movement Patterns, And What's Helped Jayson Tatum's Durability