Trade for Jaylen Brown

a time to chill · Jul 3, 2026 at 1:49 PM

Inside Celtics’ Jaylen Brown trade decision, latest intel surrounding Kevin Durant rumors, LeBron James, Jalen Duren, NBA free agency
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-st...rant-jalen-duren-lebron-james-nba-free-agency

The Rockets were one of the many teams the Celtics reached out to regarding a potential Brown trade in search of future draft picks and a young star, sources said. Although talks between the two teams never matured into a formal offer being made, the Rockets were a team Brown had interest in joining.

One of the major reasons why the Celtics were interested in doing business with Houston was due to Alperen Sengun being described as a player Boston would've moved Brown for “in a heartbeat,” one source close to the situation told ClutchPoints. Although they are not actively shopping their stars on the market this offseason, the Rockets are said to be open to all offers coming their way and are not making them untouchable like they are with Amen Thompson.

Teams have called the Rockets this offseason to check in on not only Sengun but Kevin Durant as well. Among those who had inquired about Durant, the Detroit Pistons stand out and attempted to forge a multi-team deal with the Celtics and Rockets, sources said.

Although these talks never intensified or became anything more than an idea, the Pistons would've landed Durant, the Celtics would've added Sengun, and Brown would've gone to the Rockets. Pistons executive Trajan Langdon has been very aggressive on the market to add championship-contending depth around MVP candidate Cade Cunningham this offseason, and Durant remains very high on the team's list of potential targets.

Before inquiring about Durant, Detroit had a plan to not only sign Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves to a max contract but also add Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White in free agency as well, sources said. This fell apart when the Lakers matched the Pistons' pre-planned “offer” of a max deal for Reaves, followed by the Hornets trading LaMelo Ball and locking in White as their franchise point guard.

As far as talks of a multi-team deal involving Durant, Sengun, and Brown go, at no point did the Rockets express interest in such a framework where they would be trading both stars. The Rockets themselves never wanted to pursue Brown after investing in Durant last summer, and they were not viewed as a real suitor for a trade with Boston this offseason.

That didn't stop the Celtics and Pistons from trying to figure out a path to landing Sengun and Durant, respectively, which is where this multi-team trade framework emerged.

Two league sources with knowledge of the situation told ClutchPoints that the Pistons were set on figuring out a path to land Durant, but nothing ever materialized in this three-team idea, nor did anything appear possible in brief discussions with only Houston. Perhaps the greatest detail to emerge from all of these rumors is that Durant has interest in playing alongside Pistons star Cade Cunningham, sources said.

Whether or not the Rockets look to continue their partnership with Durant is the big question at large, especially since they don't view him as an “untouchable” talent in trade talks on their roster. Houston viewed the opportunity to acquire Durant as a way to upgrade from Jalen Green and bridge the gaps in their lineup to contend in the West, but by no means was this addition viewed as a long-term commitment.

Many around the league are skeptical of the Rockets wanting to keep Durant through the end of his current contract running through the 2027-28 season. It isn't a secret to anyone that there were tensions between Durant and the Rockets' locker room last season after reports of an alleged burner account came to light and frustrations were mounting internally about the team not taking a step forward with the former league MVP at the helm.

If Durant becomes available in any capacity or the Rockets look at possible trades involving him either now or in the near future, the Pistons are fully expected to be at the front of the line to bid on his services.

Speaking of the Pistons, they have been aggressive this offseason in reshaping their roster around Cunningham. The last piece of the puzzle is figuring out matters in their frontcourt, specifically what Jalen Duren's contract situation will be.
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TLDR; Celtics and Pistons were trying to work a 3 team trade involving the Rockets. Durant would've went to the Pistons, Sengun to the Celtics, and Brown to the Rockets, but the Rockets didn't want to give up Sengun so the talks never progressed.

Also, reportedly Durant wants to play with Cade Cunningham.

astrosrule · Jul 3, 2026 at 2:35 PM

a time to chill said: ↑

Inside Celtics’ Jaylen Brown trade decision, latest intel surrounding Kevin Durant rumors, LeBron James, Jalen Duren, NBA free agency
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-st...rant-jalen-duren-lebron-james-nba-free-agency

TLDR; Celtics and Pistons were trying to work a 3 team trade involving the Rockets. Durant would've went to the Pistons, Sengun to the Celtics, and Brown to the Rockets, but the Rockets didn't want to give up Sengun so the talks never progressed.

Also, reportedly Durant wants to play with Cade Cunningham.
Click to expand...

My guess is that boston didn't want to trade enough picks to make this reasonable for the rockets. Sengun and durant for brown and 1 1st is obviously lunacy, but if it's 2 picks? 3 picks? Then it's probably worth looking at it from the rockets perspective.

JW86 · Jul 3, 2026 at 2:40 PM

The 3team trade is bullshit, but imagine to move Sengun for Brown + White / Pritchard with another young gun included? Well doesn’t matter, Smart, Brown, White and KD still here?! Yeah no thanks

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