4 Teams That Need to Call the Celtics About Possible Jaylen Brown Trade

A Jaylen Brown trade might have seemed impossible just weeks ago, but the impending exits of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford could leave Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics faced with the notion that they need to start rebuilding. That could result in Jaylen Brown becoming expendable after seeing a decline in performance during his third season in the league. These four teams should certainly give the Celtics a call and inquire about Brown at the draft.

4. Washington Wizards

As the Wizards prepare to enter what should be a long rebuild, their two best assets are John Wall, who will miss all of next year while making super max money, and Bradley Beal, who is currently being shopped all around the league for draft picks by Twitter GMs. By acquiring Brown, the Wizards could snag a high-character, high-effort guy who plays both ways. Brown could help ease the burden that a rebuild and/or fire sale would bring with it.

3. New Orleans Pelicans

While everyone is assuming that Jrue Holiday at shooting guard and Lonzo Ball at point guard is going to work instantly in New Orleans, there are concerns about two players who need the ball constantly being able to coexist. Elfrid Payton on the bench is also going to fight for touches. On top of that logjam, the Pelicans lack wing depth. In order to solve Boston's point guard question and give New Orleans a shooter on the wing, Brown could head down to NOLA in a deal including New Orleans' No. 4 pick.

2. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have the most ammunition with which to get a potential deal done given the fact they are in control of three first-round picks this year. Trae Young can shoot it from anywhere, but the trade of Taurean Prince to Brooklyn has left Atlanta without tons of shooting on the wing, with the exception of Kevin Huerter. Brown wouldn't make the Hawks playoff contenders instantly, but solid moves like this will help Lloyd Pierce and Atlanta get back to the promised land quicker than expected.

1. Houston Rockets

This could go one of two ways. Option No. 1 is the Rockets trying to tinker with their roster to try and get themselves firmly ahead of the pack in the wide-open Western Conference by picking up a young three-and-D winger like Brown. Option No. 2 is Daryl Morey finally finding a taker for Chris Paul and his contract, with Brown heading to Houston as part of a blockbuster deal. Let's hope Jaylen Brown likes barbecue, because there's a chance he'll end up in Houston by the time the season starts.