Jaylen Brown‘s split with the Boston Celtics was one of the most dramatic storylines of this year’s offseason. Following rumors of a pre-existing feud with Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum, Brown eventually found himself falling out of favor with the Celtics organization, eventually resulting in his trade to the Philadelphia 76ers. But was this really part of the plan?
The series of events leading up to his move were chaotic, to say the least. Despite his individual success with the franchise last season, Jaylen Brown’s status as the face of the Celtics’ franchise was always in question. With Boston also displaying a clear preference for Jayson Tatum, there was eventually no other alternative.
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Still, according to a recent report by The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, joining the 76ers, who happen to be Boston’s conference rivals, was never part of Jaylen Brown’s plans. When revealing crucial details about the days leading up to the trade, Washburn wrote:
“Brown never asked for a trade, but once informed the Celtics were shopping him, he submitted a list of his preferred destinations and teams he preferred not to play for. Philadelphia was on neither list.”
“According to NBA sources, Brown was interested in the Nets, but Brooklyn management was wary because of his past support of Kyrie Irving during Irving’s controversial tenure with the team, which included a suspension over sharing posts on social media containing antisemitic tropes.”
Brown’s lack of interest in being traded to the 76ers doesn’t come as a surprise. Having spent his entire career in Boston, the superstar was conditioned to despise Philadelphia, something he admittedly had to unlearn after joining the team.
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However, his interest in joining the Brooklyn Nets, especially in light of their poor performance last season, is quite intriguing.
Would Jaylen Brown Have Thrived On The Nets?
The notion of Jaylen Brown joining the Brooklyn Nets is completely hypothetical at this point. Given that several teams emerged as suitors for the 30-year-old superstar in the days leading up to his trade, virtually every franchise had something to offer.
So what did Brooklyn really bring to the table?
For starters, the Brooklyn Nets benefited from immense cap flexibility. Aside from Michael Porter Jr. and formerly Nic Claxton, the Nets didn’t have many big contracts on their roster. Additionally, with several draft assets at their disposal, Brooklyn had all the tools to formulate a compelling package to satisfy Boston’s demands.
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From a trade perspective, this could have worked out quite well for the Celtics if they only wished for draft capital. For Brown, however, this move may not have been as fruitful.
Last season, the Brooklyn Nets ranked 13th in the East with a 20-62 record. Although Porter Jr. had the best season of his career offensively, the Nets simply weren’t playing winning basketball. Needless to say, Brown’s arrival would have done little to change this.
As exceptional as Brown is capable of being, both as a player and a leader, the Nets did not possess the tools to be a competitive team. Even with Julius Randle‘s addition this offseason, Brooklyn’s 2-8 record only serves to reiterate this fact.
Hence, aside from the franchise’s reservations with acquiring someone like Jaylen Brown, a move to the Nets may have been largely unfavorable for the 30-year-old, too. In that regard, barring the inherent challenge of adjustment, joining the 76ers has proven far more fruitful.
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Despite his reduced production (22.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.0 APG), Jaylen Brown and the 76ers sit atop the Eastern Conference table with a 9-2 record. Paired with some of the most talented players in the league, one could argue that the superstar is in the best position to succeed.
While this is impressive enough, Brown’s first major test of the season awaits him, as the 76ers gear up to host Jayson Tatum and the Celtics on Tuesday, Nov. 10. With immense drama surrounding this matchup, it is safe to say that it will be an exciting one.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
