Context:

Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury during the playoffs has prompted speculation about potential trade deals involving the Boston Celtics. Former Grizzlies executive John Hollinger suggests a blockbuster trade that involves sending Jaylen Brown to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the No. 1 pick and Duke's Cooper Flagg. This move would allow the Celtics to reset their roster around a local talent while managing financial constraints, as Brown's hefty contract poses a challenge. The trade's feasibility is questioned, given the financial implications and whether Dallas would accept the deal without additional incentives. Despite its speculative nature, Hollinger's proposition highlights the NBA's penchant for dramatic and potentially transformative trades.

Dive Deeper:

• Jayson Tatum's injury is a significant setback for the Celtics, as he is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season, thereby influencing Boston's strategic decisions moving forward.

• John Hollinger, a former NBA executive, proposes a high-profile trade involving Jaylen Brown, whose large contract makes him a complex asset for the Celtics, suggesting a swap for the No. 1 draft pick and Cooper Flagg.

• The trade would provide the Celtics with a promising talent in Flagg, who could integrate into the team in Tatum's absence and prepare for a more collaborative role upon Tatum's return.

• The financial implications of Brown's $236 million contract over four years make him a less attractive trade piece, necessitating careful consideration of the Celtics' future salary cap and roster composition.

• The Mavericks' potential acceptance of this trade hinges on receiving substantial additional assets, given the value of the No. 1 draft pick and their current team dynamics.

• The speculative nature of Hollinger's idea reflects the NBA's culture of blockbuster trades, underscoring the league's dynamic and unpredictable trade market.

• While the proposal might seem far-fetched, the involvement of experienced decision-makers like Hollinger adds credibility to the discussion, highlighting the complexities and strategic foresight required in high-stakes NBA trades.

• The Jayson Tatum injury is anticipated to accelerate trade talks in Boston.

• The Celtics will likely be without Tatum for the entire 2025-26 season after he tore his Achilles on Monday night in the playoffs against the Knicks.

• But there's one deal, suggested by former Grizzlies executive John Hollinger, might be the most mind-blowing of all.

• The Tatum injury, Hollinger writes, presents the opportunity for the Celtics to explore trading Jaylen Brown to the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and the right to Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.

• "Brown is a much easier positional fit next to (Anthony) Davis and (Dereck) Lively," Hollinger writes, "but he's owed $236 million over the next four seasons, and the Celtics' roster gets frighteningly expensive next season. Would Boston mind resetting around a New England native and waiting out a gap year if Tatum needs it to recover? For that matter, would Dallas do this unless it also had considerable capital coming back in addition to Brown?"

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• That last point is particularly interesting. Given Brown's contract, he's likely a less valuable trade piece than Flagg.

• Brown would align better with the Mavs' veteran timeline.

• Flagg, from Maine, would fit right in with the Celtics. He'd get a rookie year to spread his wings without Tatum, and then in Year 2, they'd figure out how to work together.

• Does it seem a bit far fetched? Sure, but Hollinger has been in big trade conversations as a former NBA decision-maker who now writes for The Athletic. If anyone has the pulse of such a moment, it's him.

• The NBA is made for blockbuster deals like Brown for Flagg. So why not?

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