Celtics VP makes stance clear on potential Jaylen Brown and Derrick White trades

The Boston Celtics’ Vice President of Basketball Operations, Mike Zarren, has addressed trade speculation surrounding Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Zarren explained that they are not seriously considering trading both players and dismissed the rumors.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the Celtics are getting calls from around the NBA regarding the availability of Brown and White after Boston traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks.

On Thursday, CLNS Boston’s Noa Dalzell asked Zarren about the team’s plans for Brown and White.

"Those two guys are really, really great players and there hasn’t been anything close to seriously trading them," Zarren said. "I'm not sure where all that reporting came from, but those guys are key parts of our team, and we’re lucky to have them here.”

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With the Boston Celtics in the second apron and unlikely to contend for a title next season due to Jayson Tatum's expected absence with an Achilles injury, they decided to free up some money and reduce their luxury tax penalties.

The dominoes started falling with Jrue Holiday getting traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons, followed by Kristaps Porzingis being sent to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-way trade involving the Brooklyn Nets.

As for Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, they're two of the best guards in the NBA. Brown was the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, while White is an x-factor.

Several NBA teams showed interest in Jaylen Brown before draft

At just 28 years old, Jaylen Brown is entering his prime, so it's no surprise that teams are interested in acquiring him. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported before the NBA draft that several teams in the lottery made offers to the Boston Celtics to get Brown.

There weren't plenty of trades during the draft, but things are expected to ramp up as free agency continues throughout the summer. ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported that the Utah Jazz were one of the teams that made an offer for Brown. The Jazz had the fifth pick, which they eventually used to draft Ace Bailey out of Rutgers.

The Jazz have some Celtics connections as well, with Danny Ainge serving as the CEO, while his son, Austin, is the president of basketball operations.

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Juan Paolo David

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry. 

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

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