Should the Warriors Trade for Jaylen Brown?

In early January of 2021, there was an article on NBA Analysis Network talking about three unorthodox Warriors trade targets to get Steph Curry some help. It was clear that, while Steph was playing pretty well to kick off the season even before his spring warpath, the Warriors needed some more buckets. As the 2021-2022 season picks up and the Warriors are 6-1, a lot of questions have been answered about how much better this team is than last year’s: The Dubs boast the best defensive rating in NBA history since the ‘04 Pistons, have an extra bucket-getter in Jordan Poole, and have made drastic improvements to their spacing.

But the problem of lacking a self-creator is still something the front office should think about: Andrew Wiggins has been showing some early-season regression from last year, and Poole, while very good when he’s on, is ice-cold when he’s off, and is still relatively inexperienced. The hope is that Klay Thompson comes back to his former self, but there’s always the lingering question: What if he isn’t? Can the Warriors rely on Wiggins and Poole to get their looks while Steph Curry is facing the defense’s whole attention night in and night out?

Enter a dark-horse contender of a Warriors’ trade target: Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown. A Cal basketball product, Brown has averaged 15 points and 5 boards in his career on 47/37/70. This season in Boston, he’s averaging 25 points and 6 boards on an improved 49/39/78. It seems that Brown has improved every season since being drafted, having added a slick handle and improving his defense tremendously. Brown is a great player and is 25 years old, fitting well enough with both the Warriors’ current championship window and the rise of the next dynasty. His role in Boston is much akin to how Wiggins operates now, and he’d fit seamlessly into an offense that he can play both on and off-ball in while helping improve the Dubs’ league-best defense.

But here’s the real question: What would the Warriors have to give up to get Brown, and would he ultimately be enough of an improvement to warrant trading Wiggins and some other pieces? The answer to latter is unequivocally yes on account of Brown being an all-star calibre player, but there are other factors. In all likelihood, it would be Wiggins and (ideally for the Celtics) a young player and a current contributor on a solid contract as a part of the trade. The market for proven two-way wings is hot in this day and age, so a pick or two would likely be required as well, especially considering Brown’s under contract for another two seasons after this one.

There is a wrinkle for Boston, however: Recently, Celtics guard Marcus Smart went on the record to criticize both Brown and Celtics franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum. If the Celtics keep losing and the drama continues, the Boston front office could be looking to ship out one of their young stars - and it’s not going to be Tatum, who projects as the better of the two. If there’s pressure to trade Brown, that could bring down his asking price, and it could be a perfect time for the Warriors to get him for cheaper (say, Wiggins, Wiseman or Kuminga, and a pick) than they would otherwise have to.

Should the Warriors pull the trigger if that package is on the table? It’s unfortunately contingent on Klay’s return and the Warriors’ position in the playoff race, so we won’t know for now. If Golden State’s turnover issues and lack of shot creation outside Steph catch up to them, it could be a very real possibility. But if Klay comes back even 80% of the All-Defensive 20-a-game scorer he was before his long injury stint on the sidelines, this would look like a silly deal on the Warriors’ part and highway robbery by new Celtics GM Brad Stevens.

Only time will tell. On an improved roster, Steph getting back to his normal self after whatever ailment he’s undergoing passes could be the only thing they need. But insurance never hurts.

(Photo credit: Brian Babineau / Getty Images)