Danny Ainge Pursuing His Former #3 Pick From Boston Celtics

The Utah Jazz are exploring their options in the NBA trade market with their CEO Danny Ainge eyeing Jaylen Brown in an audacious move.

Danny Ainge Pursuing His Former #3 Pick From Boston Celtics

Danny Ainge and Jaylen Brown (Image by FirstSportz)

The Boston Celtics have been busy in and around the trade market lately. Having already dealt with Jrue Holiday, they have successfully trimmed over $20 million from their roster payroll. However, they haven’t stopped there. ESPN’s Shams Charania provided a clear response when he was questioned about the trade interest for Celtics standout guard Jaylen Brown during his time on Tuesday’s edition of The Stephen A. Smith Show.

Charania stated that many teams are interested in signing Brown on their roster. Most recently, as per NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Utah Jazz, headed by former Celtic Danny Ainge and his son, Austin Ainge, are interested in signing Brown the most. Per Siegel, the Jazz made an ‘aggressive’ push to sign the Celtics’ star man.

Notably, in 2021, the Utah Jazz hired Danny Ainge as alternate governor and CEO to oversee the franchise’s basketball operations. Since then, Ainge has taken over the Jazz’s rebuild and is still at the helm of it. Ainge was first at the Celtics, and signed Brown as his #3 pick during the NBA Draft. Now, Ainge wants to reunite with Brown at the Jazz.

Brown will earn $53.1 million in 2025–2026 and is now in the middle of a $304 million contract extension. Charania clarified, though, that teams have not shied away from him despite his high price tag as they attempt to bolster their rosters this offseason in the hopes of contending for the NBA title.

In addition, Celtics head of basketball operations Brad Stevens won’t allow any deal to happen easily for Brown. Stevens is a mastermind for the Celtics. Stevens got to work and promptly addressed the financial limitations that threatened to restrict the Celtics’ potential. In addition to changing the roster, Stevens’ two big deals within 48 hours of the NBA Finals have put the team in a position to avoid paying an incredible $180 million in tax penalties.

Multiple teams are in line to sign the Celtics star Jaylen Brown

The front office is reportedly making aggressive bids for Jaylen Brown, who is starting the second year of a five-year, $304 million supermax contract inked last summer, even though the Celtics would prefer to keep both Brown and Derrick White.

Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown (Credits: MARCA)

Boston is not aggressively shopping for Brown, but it is considering offers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. This is especially true since other clubs, especially those in the Eastern Conference, perceive a chance to snatch the four-time All-Star away.

There are multiple teams that have significant interest in Jaylen Brown… The contract is steep, I understand it, but listen, there are teams, especially in today’s NBA, especially in the Eastern Conference. 

Shams Charania said

Although Brown’s enormous contract, which has four years left on it with about $236 million left, complicates any possible transaction, suitors haven’t been put off. Due to their recent actions, the Celtics are now below the league’s harsh second tax apron, which will save them tens of millions of dollars in future tax fines.

Austin Ainge followed his dad, Danny Ainge, to the Jazz from the Celtics

Just like his dad, Austin Ainge is also leaving the Boston Celtics to join the Utah Jazz. On Monday morning, Ainge, a 2002–07 BYU basketball star, was appointed president of basketball operations for the Jazz. This comes as huge news for the Jazz, who are in their rebuilding phase in the NBA this season.

In addition, Austin has worked for the Celtics organization for the past 17 years in several capacities, most recently serving as assistant general manager for the last six of those years. Austin will be reunited with his father, Danny Ainge, who was a Celtics executive for almost twenty years before becoming the Jazz’s CEO in December 2021(as mentioned above).

Only a few weeks have passed since Utah signed head coach Will Hardy to a multi-year contract deal through 2031. Ainge also helped put together squads in Boston that featured players like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum while he was the Celtics’ director of scouting and player personnel. It will be interesting to watch what he does with his new franchise going forward into the new season.

Also Read: