The biggest story surrounding the Celtics this offseason has been whether or not Jaylen Brown will be traded. Brown was offered to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he ultimately went to the Miami Heat.
A new potential trade destination for Brown has come out, with it being the Detroit Pistons, which would see Boston get center Jalen Duren, per NBA insider Jake Fischer. Detroit had a surprising year, finishing first in the Eastern Conference and winning 60 games before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. While Duren was a huge part of the team's regular-season success and center is the Celtics biggest need, it would be a mistake for Boston to make this trade.
Boston shouldn't trade Jaylen Brown for Jalen Duren
After being a key piece for the Pistons in the regular season, Duren's play in the playoffs dropped considerably. In the regular season, he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. His averages dropped in the playoffs to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds.
Not only did his averages drop, but his field goal percentage did as well. Duren dropped from being a 65% shooter in the regular season to only shooting 51.4% in the playoffs. During Detroit's game seven against the Cavaliers, the Pennsylvania native put up seven points and nine rebounds, while recording three turnovers and finishing with a negative 18 plus/minus.
Entering free agency, Duren needs a new contract, and currently, it seems more likely that a sign-and-trade occurs, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. We saw the Celtics centers struggle in the playoffs; Duren wouldn't have been much better. Add in the fact that he'll make much more than what the Celtics current centers make, and you would find yourself in at best a similar spot to where the current team is.
Boston should keep Jaylen Brown for as long as possible
Given how open Boston was to trading away Brown for Giannis, it makes sense to think that the relationship between Brown and the Celtics would require a breakup now that the trade fell through. But the newest report on the situation doesn't seem to believe that.
Though a Brown trade could still happen, Boston isn't acting from a spot where they feel like they have to trade him. Not many players available are on the five-time All-Star's level, so if a move happens, it would have to blow the Celtics away.
As much as the Brown trade rumors have dominated the Celtics' offseason, in the NBA draft, they added Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell. Fans will get the chance to see both of their first games in green during the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Boston's first game is on July 10th, when they take on the Toronto Raptors.
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