Never give up, never surrender!
The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t made much of a splash in the NBA offseason so far. They held no picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. They were frozen out of the trade talks that eventually sent superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. A lone Summer League roster signing adorns their achievement list so far.
But according to the latest Marc Stein substack [subscription required] that’s not for lack of trying. And Portland hasn’t given up yet. They’ve simply shifted focus from Antetokounmpo to another star forward: Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown.
Stein references sources saying Portland is knocking on Boston’s door, trying to make their dream trade happen. He also suggests that the asking price may be steep.
There is one team leaguewide, sources say, most frequently described as actively pursuing Boston’s Jaylen Brown.
The Portland Trail Blazers.
The Blazers have been known to covet Brown dating back to Damian Lillard’s first tenure with the franchise. And they still do.
We’ve been reporting for some time that Portland was hoping to use Jerami Grant’s $34.2 million salary and first-round draft capital to try to get into the trade mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo … while also preparing to shift to pursuing Washington’s Anthony Davis if the 10-time former All-Star big man and the Wizards can’t come to an agreement on a contract extension when Davis becomes eligible for a new deal in August. But Brown undeniably ranks as another All-NBA talent who entices them.
The question from here, of course, is whether even the aggressive Blazers are willing to satisfy Boston’s steep demands in trade talks. ESPN reported Friday that the Celtics, in some recent conversations with interested teams involving Brown, have sought four first-round picks for him.
Of note: Portland is expecting an unprotected 2028 first-round pick incoming from the Orlando Magic, plus an unprotected 2029 first-rounder from the Milwaukee Bucks or the Celtics (whichever is more favorable), plus pick swaps with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030. Those assets are in addition to the Blazers’ own picks for the foreseeable future (give or take in 2029, but they’ll hold two first-rounders that year either way).
Brown played 71 games for the Celtics last season, averaging 34.4 minutes per. He also averaged 28.7 points on 47.7% shooting from the field, 34.7% from the three-point arc, adding 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and a steal per contest. He is scheduled to make $57 million next year on a contract that runs through 2029 without options.
What do you think of four first-rounders for Brown? Would that cause you to bite? Share your thoughts on that price and Portland’s dogged pursuit in the comments section below!
