In a shocking hypothetical deal, Boston would address multiple roster needs and gain financial flexibility by bringing back the polarizing point guard, but at the cost of a franchise cornerstone.
BOSTON — The sudden dismissal of Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison has sent ripples across the NBA, with many anticipating a fire sale that could see stars like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on the move. While Celtics fans have dreamt of Davis landing in Boston, a new, far more controversial idea has emerged: a blockbuster trade that would bring Kyrie Irving back to the city where his tenure ended in turmoil.
A proposed three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets suggests that the Celtics could not only survive such a move but potentially thrive, addressing several key issues in one fell swoop. However, the price of admission would be the heart and soul of the team: NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
The Proposed Blockbuster
The framework of the deal is as follows:
Boston Celtics Receive: Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jaylen Brown
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Sam Hauser, 2032 second-round pick (from DAL)
The Case for Boston: Solving Problems, Gaining Flexibility
On the surface, trading a beloved homegrown star for a former villain seems like heresy. But proponents of the deal point to three concrete benefits for the Celtics:
Bolstering the Frontcourt: Daniel Gafford (27) would immediately become the answer to Boston’s persistent rebounding woes. He provides a prime-aged, defensive-minded starting center under a relatively team-friendly contract for the next three-and-a-half seasons, something the Celtics would struggle to find in free agency.
Immediate Contention: The proposed starting lineup of Derrick White, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Josh Minott, and Daniel Gafford is formidable. With a healthy Irving and Tatum, this roster would instantly re-enter the championship conversation in a weakened Eastern Conference, arguably becoming more balanced than the current iteration.
Financial Maneuverability: This is the long-term play. Swapping Brown’s supermax contract (through 2029) for Irving’s deal (player option in 2028) and Gafford’s contract would free up significant cap space a full year sooner. This would give President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens greater flexibility to retool the roster around a 30-year-old Jayson Tatum at the peak of his prime in the summer of 2028.
The Glaring Obstacle: History and Heart
The biggest hurdle is not basketball-related; it’s emotional and historical. Kyrie Irving’s departure from Boston left a bitter taste, with many fans viewing him as a catalyst for dysfunction. Re-introducing that presence into a locker room that has cultivated a strong, resilient identity could be a massive risk.
Furthermore, trading Jaylen Brown—a Finals MVP who has weathered every storm and committed his long-term future to Boston—would be an incredibly tough pill for the franchise and its fanbase to swallow. His intangible leadership and two-way excellence are the bedrock of the team’s identity.
The Verdict: A Calculated, Yet Unlikely, Gamble
This trade proposal is a fascinating thought experiment that highlights paths for roster construction beyond the obvious. From a pure asset-management and need-filling perspective, it holds more water than most would care to admit.
However, basketball is not played on a spreadsheet. The chemistry risks, the emotional toll of trading Brown, and the sheer audacity of reuniting with Irving make this a deal that likely remains in the realm of speculation. While it would make the Celtics different—and perhaps even better on paper—the front office would have to be supremely confident it could navigate the immense off-court drama to ever pull the trigger.