NBA trade proposal sends Celtics’ Jaylen Brown to Hawks

The Hawks took a major step forward this season, but some believe Atlanta may not be done making bold moves.

After dealing Trae Young to the Wizards at the trade deadline and still securing the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks appear to have a foundation worth building upon.

That has led to speculation that Atlanta could pursue another star this offseason.

In a proposed three-team trade from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the Hawks would land Celtics star Jaylen Brown as part of a blockbuster deal involving Boston and the Pelicans.

Buckley suggested Brown could be an ideal fit alongside Atlanta’s young core.

“The Hawks might be willing to pay a premium for Brown, a Georgia native, since their young core looks ready to fly but probably needs a top-shelf talent to really take off,” Buckley wrote.

Under the proposal, Atlanta would receive Brown, Pelicans center Yves Missi, and veteran big man Kevon Looney. The Celtics would acquire Trey Murphy III and Onyeka Okongwu, while New Orleans would receive a package that includes Zaccharie Risacher, Jonathan Kuminga via sign-and-trade, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and additional draft compensation.

Brown, 29, is coming off another strong season in Boston. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for much of the year while recovering from an Achilles injury, Brown took on a larger offensive role and averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Whether the Celtics would seriously consider moving Brown remains unclear. However, NBA insider Jake Fischer recently identified Atlanta as a potential team to watch should Boston explore trade options involving the four-time All-Star.

Obviously, this is all hypothetical. But at this time of year, NBA fantasy is often at least as fun as reality.