Celtics

Jaylen Brown appeared to respond to the Celtics-Kevin Durant trade rumor

Trade rumors are nothing new for Brown.

By Hayden Bird

July 25, 2022

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Following the recent reports that the Celtics have jumped into the Kevin Durant trade conversation with the Nets, a possible key piece from Boston’s end appeared to acknowledge the whirlwind of rumors.

Jaylen Brown, a crucial part of the Celtics’ recent run to the NBA Finals, had a short but simple tweet that seemed to sum up the reports:

“Smh,” Brown tweeted (which generally is used as an acronym to mean “shaking my head”).

It would be a fitting response from a player for whom trade rumors are not a new thing.

Whether it was Kawhi Leonard in 2018, Anthony Davis in 2019, or the more recent Durant reports, Brown has been identified as a potential trade chip on several occasions.

Even as recently as Nov. 2021, Brown was named by NBA insider Shams Charania (who also reported the recent Durant-Celtics rumor) as a player Boston would “have to” include in a possible trade for Ben Simmons (then still a member of the 76ers). Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said he “laughed” at the report, and Boston did not end up pursuing a deal for Simmons.

Durant has been in trade conversations between the Nets and other teams since June 30, when the 34-year-old requested a trade from Brooklyn.