Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 26
Hornets Lead Non-Boston Odds for Jaylen Brown at +380 After $40 Million Trade Exception
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 26

Hornets Lead Non-Boston Odds for Jaylen Brown at +380 After $40 Million Trade Exception

3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 26

Summary

  • DraftKings lists Charlotte at +380 as the top team outside Boston to land Jaylen Brown after the Hornets' franchise-resetting trade of LaMelo Ball.
  • That speculation follows Charlotte's deal sending Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid, a 2033 first-round pick, three pick swaps and three future second-rounders, which also created a record $40 million trade exception.
  • Any Brown pursuit would still be complicated because Charlotte cannot combine that trade exception with outgoing salary, and a workable package could require Miles Bridges, Naz Reid, another player such as Brandon Miller, plus picks.
  • Brown's fit is also in question: with Ball gone, Charlotte needs a facilitator, while Brown averaged 2.9 assists and is viewed more as a ball-dominant scorer than a primary playmaker.

Insights

Is a trade centered on a 2033 pick a wise gamble or a historic mistake for a star like LaMelo Ball?
Is Boston trading Jaylen Brown for financial reasons, or is their relationship with the star irreparably broken?
Having traded their star playmaker, why do the Hornets now favor acquiring a score-first wing over a true facilitator?