The Denver Nuggets have internally discussed whether they have enough assets to enter the trade market for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer on The Stein Line. However, Denver has not emerged as a leading destination for the All-NBA wing, with the Celtics expected to seek a massive return.
Boston is believed to be looking for a package built around young players, draft picks and future flexibility if it decides to move Brown. Jay King of The Athletic reported that the Celtics could consider offers focused on prospects, picks and pick swaps rather than only established stars.
Brown became one of the NBA’s biggest offseason storylines after Boston explored trade conversations around him during the draft period. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Celtics had been active in discussions with multiple teams, although no deal was considered imminent.
The Nuggets would have to determine whether they can match Boston’s expected price while maintaining a championship-level roster around Nikola Jokic. Denver finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 54-28 record, the third-best mark in the Western Conference, but was eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games.
Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games for Boston last season, earned All-NBA Second Team honors and finished sixth in MVP voting.
Denver’s current roster already features significant wing depth. Aaron Gordon averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 36 games, while Peyton Watson averaged 14.6 points and shot 41.1% from three-point range. Cameron Johnson also contributed 12.2 points per game while shooting 43.0% from deep.
The biggest question for Denver would be the cost. Brown remains one of the league’s most valuable two-way wings and is under contract for approximately $183 million over the next several seasons. The Celtics would likely demand a package that includes premium draft capital and players who can help reshape their roster around Jayson Tatum if they move forward with a major change.
