Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Could Be Available Vs. Lakers

Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown has “ramped up” his workouts and could be available for Friday’s home game vs. the Lakers, as relayed by John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal.

Brown was ruled out for at least a week on Nov. 8 after suffering a hamstring strain. At the time, coach Ime Udoka estimated that Brown would be out “a week or two.”

As an aside, Lakers star LeBron James may also make his return for Friday’s game, per reports.

Brown, 25, is 6-foot-6 and averaging 25.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in eight games this season. The Celtics (7-7) visit the Hawks on Wednesday and Brown will not play.

His name has been mentioned in trade rumors centered on available 76ers star Ben Simmons, though president of basketball operations Brad Stevens recently shot those down.

“I just walked up to Jaylen and said, ‘Your name is all over the place as you know. Obviously, from our standpoint, you’re a Celtic and obviously a guy that we think exceptionally high of. Nothing doing,’” Stevens said on 98.5 The Sports Hub, via CelticsBlog. “I just wanted to make sure that he has that peace of mind.

“When you get into trade rumors, obviously, there’s going to be rumors, there’s going to be talks,” Stevens said. “We have to be on the phones, but we also have to be prudent and smart about what we’re doing with our own team. I would say most of the time that I’ve been here at least, there’s a lot less to it that’s real.”