Long in the race to get Kevin Durant, Boston finally came home empty-handed like the others. However, the Greens and Whites could well find themselves at the heart of the next big transfer… which would involve the departure of one of their managers.
Rather active on the market this summer, notably by bringing in Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari, the Celtics however almost completed the record for the decade. Indeed, they were considered for weeks as the favorites to acquire Kevin Durant, after his transfer request. Reigning NBA finalist and endowed with a complete group, the team coached by Ime Udoka was an obvious choice… but Brooklyn refused a transaction, despite the rather advantageous offer from GM Brad Stevens.
Apart from Marcus Smart and a few draft choices, the leader would have been ready to sell Jaylen Brown, yet one of the pillars of the squad. What he didn’t like… However, the franchise later said such a move by the winger would never have been discussed internally. Ironically, the Stanford-educated player now finds himself embroiled in other rumours. An anonymous leader told the site Heavy that the Hawks would squint at him:
Jaylen Brown soon sent to the Hawks?
Report: Executives around NBA believe Atlanta Hawks are biggest threat to pry Jaylen Brown away from Boston Celtics
“If they can clear out the room, that’s probably the biggest team to worry the Celtics. » https://t.co/rSs87XHB2Z
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) August 30, 2022
In recent years, they’ve been looking for more two-way players, as a few big-name signings around Trae Young haven’t worked out. We’ll have to see what they do with De’Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu because they’ll need extra time but if they can make room, they’re probably the team the Celtics are most worried about.
After assuring for days that Jayson Tatum’s senior lieutenant would not go anywhere, could a departure really be considered? If we were talking about a team other than the Falcons, the answer would probably be no. Except that here, the Georgia franchise is not just any in the eyes of JB3, because he is a local child. As Heavy recalls in another article, the ties he has with his hometown are deep:
It’s no secret that Brown is a proud Atlanta native, and that he returned to the city to help lead protests during the post-George Floyd marches in late spring 2020. When he was set to become a restricted free agent in 2019, the Hawks were ready to lure him home. Its commitment to Boston as a community has long been strong, and as a city, Atlanta might be the only place higher on its list.
Jaylen Brown is very attached to the Celtics, but the Hawks are practically his home since he grew up watching them play. In the past, he has also said on several occasions that he loves playing at the State Farm Arena. A serious avenue to explore for Atlanta?