Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Jeremiah Fears #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden.

Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Jeremiah Fears #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at TD Garden on April 10, 2026. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

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Portland Trail Blazers Would Have ‘Serious Interest’ In Jaylen Brown Trade

Jake RogersJune 19, 2026 5:29 PMJune 19, 2026 5:29 PM

DHJ Quick Take: Portland Eyes Jaylen Brown as Its Giannis Interest Fades

Portland would have serious interest in Jaylen Brown if Boston makes him available, even as the Trail Blazers back off their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, complicated by his contract timeline.

Who do the Blazers want? Jaylen Brown, an All-NBA wing with three years left on his deal and a cleaner long-term fit than Antetokounmpo.
Why cool on Giannis? His reluctance to extend in Portland and his path to 2027 free agency have dampened the Blazers’ push.
How could Brown shake loose? Only if Boston pursues a Giannis swap, which Milwaukee likely would not accept for Brown alone.
What’s next? If the Celtics keep Brown and Tatum, they are eyeing Trey Murphy III, a move that would keep Brown off Portland’s radar.

The Portland Trail Blazers would have serious interest in acquiring All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown if the Boston Celtics make him available, league sources told Sam Amick of The Athletic, even as Portland has eased off an aggressive pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The 29-year-old wing is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 71 games while shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.7% from 3-point range on 5.7 attempts per game, good for a 57.3% true shooting mark. That production is the kind of two-way scoring punch the Blazers have lacked on the wing.

Amick reports that the Blazers do not appear to be chasing Antetokounmpo hard at the moment, with the cooling tied to two factors: his reluctance to sign an extension in Portland and his ability to reach free agency in 2027. Brown, by contrast, has three years left on his contract, which gives Portland more long-term certainty if it lands a star wing rather than a player who could leave within a year.

How Jaylen Brown Could Become Available

Brown’s availability hinges on Boston’s bigger-picture decisions. The Celtics have worked to keep his name out of trade speculation, but he would almost certainly have to headline any package that brings Antetokounmpo to Boston.

Amick reports that the Celtics would be comfortable with a one-for-one swap of the two stars, though it is widely believed that Brown alone would not be enough for the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis trade. It remains unclear how aggressive Boston, which can trade up to three first-round picks, is prepared to be in sweetening such an offer.

What Boston Does if It Stands Pat

If the Celtics hold onto their duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum, they figure to look elsewhere to upgrade the roster. League sources told Amick that Boston is among many teams interested in Trey Murphy III, the wing the Celtics and others have targeted from the New Orleans Pelicans. That path would keep Brown in Boston and, by extension, off the market that Portland is monitoring.

For the Blazers, the situation underscores a preference shaped as much by contracts as by talent. Antetokounmpo’s uncertain timeline made a costly pursuit harder to justify, while Brown’s three remaining years offer the kind of cost certainty a team can plan around.