Celtics’ Jaylen Brown reportedly frustrated as trade rumors linger

The Celtics continue to face questions about the future of star forward Jaylen Brown, and those questions don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Brown has grown frustrated with how the organization has handled things after leading Boston to 56 wins while Jayson Tatum missed significant time recovering from a torn Achilles.

The report comes as the Celtics continue to receive trade inquiries involving Brown ahead of Tuesday’s start of free agency.

Brown’s name surfaced prominently last week when Boston attempted to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks. That pursuit ultimately fell short, with Antetokounmpo landing with the Heat instead, but it did little to quiet speculation surrounding Brown’s long-term future.

Adding to the uncertainty, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens stopped short last week of guaranteeing Brown would be on the roster next season.

Whether Boston is actively shopping the 2024 NBA Finals MVP or simply listening to calls from interested teams remains unclear.

According to Himmelsbach, one league source believes Brown could still return to the Celtics next season. But if that happens, it may require some candid conversations between the two sides after a rocky offseason.

All of that said, Boston appears to be weighing its options.

The Celtics missed on Antetokounmpo, and any trade involving Brown would likely leave the roster taking at least a short-term step backward unless Stevens can uncover another blockbuster opportunity.

A move before free agency opens would provide greater roster clarity, though Himmelsbach reported there is no indication the Celtics feel pressured to complete a deal on that timetable.

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