logo
Does Jaylen Brown's future lie away from the Boston Celtics?

Does Jaylen Brown's future lie away from the Boston Celtics?

USA Today21-07-2025
Every summer, Jaylen Brown's name is floated in trade talks. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is often viewed as a dispensable member of the Boston Celtics' rotation, despite being one of the top forwards in the NBA and a key player in Joe Mazzulla's rotation. This summer has been no different, despite the fact that Brown is set to embrace a leading role on the Celtics roster due to Jayson Tatum's injury-induced absence.
Recently, Brown sat down for an interview with Noa Dalzell of Celtics Blog. During the discussion, he noted how he hasn't always felt capable of being his true self around the city, noting politics as a potential reason.
'It's been a long journey here in Boston,' Brown said. 'I've had to deal with a lot. I feel like I haven't been able to be myself in certain capacities — because of the politics, and because maybe people feel uncomfortable with who I am.'
Those comments were quickly used to create a new wave of potential trade talk surrounding Brown. In a recent episode of "WEEI Afternoons," the concept of Brown potentially being traded, either this season or next, was a primary discussion point among the two hosts.
You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above.
Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS
Website: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Should Nets' Drew Timme been on one of the All-summer league teams?
Should Nets' Drew Timme been on one of the All-summer league teams?

USA Today

time27 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Should Nets' Drew Timme been on one of the All-summer league teams?

Brooklyn Nets center Drew Timme was arguably the best player for the Nets in the 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League that happened earlier this month. Timme not only showed that what he did last season was not a fluke, but he also showed Brooklyn that he's ready to contribute. Timme did not make either of the All-Summer League teams, but maybe he should have. "Timme was (expletive) amazing at summer league. I thought Timme was the best like offensive big I saw at Summer League. Just point blank," The Athletic's Sam Vecenie said on his "Game Theory" podcast. Vecenie, along with his co-host Bryce Simon of Motor City Hoops, was discussing how Brooklyn's rookies performed in the summer league before getting pleasantly sidetracked while talking about Timme. "I thought Timmy was (expletive) unbelievable. We have an all summer league team snub in Drew Timme. Drew Timme was so (expletive) good at summer league, guys," Vecenie continued. "Timme had 22 (points), 30, and 24. We'll talk about him tomorrow, but I thought he was so good. I thought him and Flip (Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski), like they were the two guys, and I thought he was like a little bit more efficient than Flip. It was awesome. He was so good." To Vecenie's point, Timme seemingly performed like one of the best players in Las Vegas when you look at his production that he put up in just three games worth of action. Timme played 30.7 minutes per game and averaged 25.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 55.4% from the field and 21.4% from behind the three-point line. Despite what Timme did, he did not make either of the two NBA All-Summer League teams, an action that feels like the league snubbing the former Gonzaga Bulldog. Timme's performance was so convincing that former NBA center Kendrick Perkins posted on X that Timme should be getting real minutes in the NBA for some team if not the Nets. Timme's performance in Sin City could be the start of him having his breakout season in the NBA.

Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving Almost Reunited On Mavericks Before Devastating Injury
Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving Almost Reunited On Mavericks Before Devastating Injury

Yahoo

time43 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving Almost Reunited On Mavericks Before Devastating Injury

Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving Almost Reunited On Mavericks Before Devastating Injury originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Kevin Durant nearly became a Dallas Maverick. That's according to NBA insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, who reported on Thursday that the Suns fielded multiple trade calls for Durant at the deadline—including one from the Mavericks. While talks didn't materialize into a deal, Robinson claims it could have gone much further had Kyrie Irving not suffered a season-ending injury. 'The Suns were taking phone calls from other teams that were calling at the deadline," said NBA Insider Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson on the 'HBCU' podcast. "Those teams included Dallas, the Washington Wizards, and the Golden State Warriors. Just talking to people across the league, I got the sense that had Kyrie Irving not injured his knee, torn his ACL, we might be having another conversation about Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as members of the Dallas Mavericks." Despite averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last season, Durant failed to lead the Suns to prosperity in the Western Conference. Their failure led Durant to become the summer's hottest trade target, and the Mavericks might have pulled off the trade had Kyrie Irving not torn his ACL in March. "In fact, that Kyrie Irving injury really was the Achilles heel as to why KD did not find a way to the Dallas Mavericks even though the Mavericks were calling.' Durant's history with Irving goes back to the 2019-20 season, the start of their tenure as teammates. Together, they led the Nets to prominence in the East and formed one of the most lethal offensive duos in the sport. Besides great chemistry on the court, Durant and Irving developed a close bond that persists even today. Unfortunately, their time as teammates can only be described as a disaster, given that the Nets only won one playoff series under their leadership. When they finally parted ways in February of 2023, nobody ever imagined they'd work together again. And yet, according to Scoop, they nearly ran it back this summer for a reunion in Dallas. With Durant, Irving, and Anthony Davis, the Mavericks could have been favorites in the West and would have been in a nice position to justify their Luka Doncic trade. It was a dream scenario for the Mavericks that ultimately ended when Irving suffered a season-ending ACL tear. That injury did more than just derail the Mavericks' season; it also erased the opportunity to build a potential superteam with some of the best NBA veterans in the sport. On the Rockets, Durant will have one last chance to make amends for his mistakes, but he won't have Irving by his side to help set the culture he envisions. Instead, he'll have to rely on a young and unproven core featuring Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. It's hard not to wonder what could've been. A healthy Kyrie might have been the key to reuniting one of the NBA's most electric duos and creating a new powerhouse in Dallas. Instead, the dream dissolved before it ever got off the ground. For Durant, a new chapter begins in Houston. For the Mavs, it's just another reminder of how quickly opportunity can slip away in the story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.

Luka Doncic's Body Transformation Was Years In The Making, Sources Say
Luka Doncic's Body Transformation Was Years In The Making, Sources Say

Yahoo

time44 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Luka Doncic's Body Transformation Was Years In The Making, Sources Say

Luka Doncic's Body Transformation Was Years In The Making, Sources Say originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Luka Doncic looked like a different player during the Mavericks' run to the 2024 NBA Finals, but it turns out the transformation wasn't sparked by Dallas. According to a new report by The Athletic, the physical changes that helped Doncic reach a new level were set in motion by his personal team as far back as 2023—long before the trade that shook his career. "Some sources in Doncic's inner circle believed he was on the path toward this kind of physical transformation, whether or not Dallas general manager Nico Harrison had bet against him," wrote Dan Woike of The Athletic. "Doncic and his management team began working with Macek and Barrio in 2023. One year later, he helped carry the Mavericks to the NBA Finals." Luka, who was drafted third overall in 2018, was always naturally gifted, but there were questions about whether he could demonstrate the level of training and conditioning required to succeed at the highest levels. Ultimately, Doncic's camp believed more time and experience would show him the formula to success. "The belief among Doncic's team was, to some degree, that as he matured as an NBA professional, he'd adopt some better habits and completely buy into a stricter strength and conditioning program instead of the more competition-driven approach he'd been comfortable with," Woike wrote. "But improvement isn't always linear." Despite career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 43.8% shooting, Doncic was cast aside by the Mavericks last season. Citing his lack of discipline and poor conditioning habits, they justified giving up Luka in the pursuit of a championship. Now, he intends to make them pay. With a renewed competitive fire, a chip on his shoulder, and a supportive cast of teammates and associates, Doncic wants to make the Mavs regret ever letting him go by becoming the player they always wanted him to be. Already, the reports out of Los Angeles have been positive. In his first offseason as a Laker, he's shown a legitimate interest in expanding his arsenal and taking every measure to ensure his health and prosperity throughout the season. For Doncic, however, this trend is not only the result of the blockbuster trade. No matter where he ended up, Doncic believes he was on the upward track and that what we've seen so far is just the beginning of what he can do on the court. While it may be too soon for the Mavs to have regrets, it won't take much for Doncic to make that trade look foolish. If he's able to complete his body transformation and show the dedication to his craft that was lacking before, it may be the key to unlocking his full potential in the NBA. In the end, Doncic's evolution is about more than abs or cardio drills. It represents a mindset shift for a player who's long relied on skill and savvy to dominate. Now that his body is finally catching up to his basketball IQ, the ceiling for Luka and the Mavericks is higher than story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store