The Boston Celtics were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals this season, and there’s no doubt that this could mean that there are changes on the horizon. Some believe that the Celtics have already hit their ceiling with the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown duo.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies have been dealing with superstar Ja Morant’s off-court issues. Perhaps we could see the two teams make a mutually beneficial trade involving Ja Morant and Jaylen Brown. Here is a potential trade scenario that moves Morant to the Celtics and Brown to the Grizzlies.
Boston Celtics Receive: Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks (Sign-And-Trade)
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, 2025 First-Round Pick (BOS)
There is no doubt that this trade could have benefits for both teams involved, and there is something to gain for everyone involved. Here is why this is a sound trade proposal.
The Boston Celtics Get A Superstar That Fits Well With Jayson Tatum
One of the biggest criticism about the Boston Celtics’ star wing duo is that their s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 sets overlap, and they operate in the same areas of the court. Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are two-way wings that are shot creators, and their playstyles are similar. Perhaps getting a superstar who does different things on the court by trading Jaylen Brown could make the Boston Celtics a championship-level team.
Ja Morant is an elite slasher who commands a lot of defensive attention and frequently collapses the defense by driving to the rim. He is also an amazing playmaker, capable of making a variety of passes with either hand. Morant would provide a different dimension to the Celtics’ offense and give them a true floor general that can run the offense and take some of the playmaking and ballhandling duties away from Jayson Tatum. His s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set could make the Celtics a much more cohesive team and make life easier on their 3PT shooters. Ja Morant put up 26.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 8.1 APG for the Memphis Grizzlies in the regular season.
The Celtics would also get Dillon Brooks in this scenario through a sign-and-trade, and he would give them another elite defender that can guard multiple positions. Even though Dillon Brooks can struggle offensively at times, he is still a quality perimeter defender that will thrive within a smaller offensive role.
Moving Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown will be tough for the Celtics, as they were part of the franchise’s team that made the NBA Finals in 2022. However, taking the risk on Ja Morant’s talent is worth it, even with the off-court incidents. The Celtics have a team that can withstand his absence through a potential suspension as well, and there’s no doubt that this move would make them a better team overall for a playoff setting.
The Memphis Grizzlies Acquire A Star That Fits The City And The Culture
The Memphis Grizzlies could elect to trade Ja Morant soon, especially if they don’t believe he can turn things around in terms of his off-the-court behavior. Getting a two-way player like Jaylen Brown would fit their team and their culture. Since he made an All-NBA team and they have his Bird rights, they would be able to offer him a supermax contract extension, which would likely entice him to stay long-term with the team.
There is no doubt that Jaylen Brown is an All-NBA tier talent, and getting traded to the Memphis Grizzlies would give him the opportunity to leave Jayson Tatum’s shadow and become a No. 1 option on a competitive team. The Memphis Grizzlies have the infrastructure to help him find success in that role, and he would have quality players such as Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. that can be complementary players to him offensively. Jaylen Brown averaged 26.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 3.5 APG during the regular season, and he could give even better production in a larger role.
In this deal, the Memphis Grizzlies would also get Marcus Smart, who would immediately start at the PG position for the team. He would provide some defense, shooting, and playmaking at the position, and is notably a former DPOY as well. Adding Marcus Smart’s perimeter defense to the team would help them improve even further on that end of the floor, and he and Jackson Jr. could make a great defensive tandem.
The key reason for the Memphis Grizzlies to make this deal is to acquire two defensive players. Jaylen Brown is also the wing scorer that they desperately need for late-game situations. This deal is primarily about positional fit, and moving Ja Morant for reasons previously listed.
This Could Be The Deal Of The Summer
There is no doubt that this deal could shake up both conferences and would give both the Boston Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies a new look. This could easily be the biggest deal of the summer if it happens. Generally, there is a lot of hype about stars moving teams, and two high-profile players like Ja Morant and Jaylen Brown switching places would be the story of the offseason.
The Boston Celtics would clearly have a championship-level duo in Jayson Tatum and Ja Morant, and many would agree that both are All-NBA caliber talents. Though Ja Morant is clearly a risk, perhaps playing for a championship franchise like the Boston Celtics can help him work through his off-court incidents and focus on basketball and winning.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies would get a new franchise player that fits their “grit and grind” culture and is a better positional fit overall. They already have a solid point guard in Tyus Jones, who would likely start at the position after Ja Morant’s departure. Jaylen Brown could really spread his wings and take another leap as a No. 1 option, and it would definitely be interesting to see just how good he can be.
We will see whether a deal like this will actually happen. However, both teams are clearly in need of changes, and we have seen much stranger things happen in the league.
