Jaylen Brown's superstar-like performance in last night's victory over the Orlando Magic wasn't just about the electrifying numbers. It had a lot to do with his future in Boston - or elsewhere.
If Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka wanted to showcase Brown for an upcoming trade, which I doubt is the case, his eruption versus Orlando could not have been more perfect. There was some "hop-on-my-back" swagger as he hit from everywhere and dared the Magic defense to stop him.
They couldn't! Not only did Jaylen put up a game-high 50 points, but he was high-scorer for the entire NBA last evening. The question now comes down to - with two stars that can carry their team to victory - and with a similar skill set - can they exist (and thrive) together in Boston.
Marcus Smart has proven himself as a solid point guard, but since he will never be a volume scorer, what better shooting guard next to him is out there than Jaylen Brown? Rob Williams game is soaring exponentially, and if he remains healthy, he seems to be the answer for Boston at center. The now-and-future core is arguably Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and now - Rob Williams.
The trade rumors surrounding Brown persist, with Ben Simmons often cited as the incoming piece. I can't totally dismiss that proposal, but Brad Stevens, as a first-year GM, has to fear trading Jaylen - only to find that he is propelled to superstardom on a rival team. That alone should cancel any trades involving Boston's "other Jay Team member".
Love this, JB can carry a team that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteI guess we found that out!
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