Jaylen Brown could've been teammates with Stephen Curry this season.
The Boston Celtics called the Golden State Warriors near June's NBA draft and asked for four first-rounders, including this year's No. 11 overall selection, and a first-round pick swap in exchange for Brown, sources told ESPN's Anthony Slater.
Boston hoped to use the draft compensation in a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, adds Slater. Golden State rejected the proposal, and the two sides never re-engaged in talks involving the 2024 Finals MVP, Slater reports.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., and owner Joe Lacob have reportedly been mindful about not mortgaging the team's future for short-term gains.
"The path forward is to win," Dunleavy said in a statement provided to Slater. "Never changes."
Golden State ended up taking Michigan standout Yaxel Lendeborg with its first-round selection. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, four assists, and 1.5 steals en route to earning Summer League MVP honors.
Meanwhile, the Celtics later traded Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and a pair of second-rounders.
