Celtics linked to Evan Mobley in trade speculation, but Cavs not looking to move him

The internet has spent much of Wednesday connecting Celtics star Jaylen Brown to Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley.

At this point, though, that’s all it is — speculation.

The chatter began when NBA insider Chris Mannix discussed potential trade scenarios involving Brown after Boston failed to land Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Teams are looking to see if Jaylen Brown is truly available and what the asking price for him is going to be,” Mannix said on NBC Sports Boston. “But the Celtics, I believe, are listening to those calls and are thinking up their own trade matches of their own.”

Mannix then revealed the name he said repeatedly surfaced in conversations with league personnel.

“I spent some time this afternoon talking to different teams about what might the Celtics be interested in,” Mannix said. “And the name and the team that came back to me a lot was Evan Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

He added that Mobley fits the profile of player Boston could target.

“Mobley is one of those guys that could fit the archetype of the type of player that the Celtics are looking for.”

That’s all fair enough. The issue is that there has been no indication the Cavs have any interest in moving Mobley.

Quite the opposite, actually.

By all accounts, Cleveland views the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year as one of the franchise’s foundational pieces and a major reason the Cavs have emerged as one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders.

Mobley, 25, is entering the prime of his career and remains one of the NBA’s elite defenders, capable of protecting the rim while also switching onto guards on the perimeter.

Could the Cavs at least listen if Brown were involved?

Now that I have almost no doubt. Teams listen to everything.

And Brown is a terrific player and one of the league’s best two-way wings.

But as things stand today, there have been no known discussions between Cleveland and Boston involving Mobley, and there is no evidence the Cavs are actively exploring such a move.

The Celtics may be evaluating every possible avenue after missing out on Antetokounmpo.

The Cavs, meanwhile, appear perfectly content building around Mobley.

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