Choosing LaMelo Ball Over Jaylen Brown! Timberwolves' Internal Look at Their Offseason Trade Decision Process

Sources confirmed that the Celtics and Timberwolves held trade talks centered around All-Star Jaylen Brown, while also revealing the key reason the negotiations ultimately broke down.

Before the Minnesota Timberwolves completed a major trade with the Charlotte Hornets involving LaMelo Ball, the team had held substantive trade discussions with the Boston Celtics regarding All-Star player Jaylen Brown. Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid were also involved in the negotiations.

According to The Athletic, the Celtics wanted Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid as the return package for sending Jaylen Brown.

"The Timberwolves did seriously discuss a Jaylen Brown trade with the Celtics, and the team held multiple internal discussions about it as well," Kraczynski said. "During the negotiation stage, the Celtics' asking price was Gobert plus Reid. If the Timberwolves had not finalized the LaMelo trade, as the offseason progressed, the Celtics' asking price might have dropped, and the deal theoretically could still have been completed."

"But compared with acquiring Jaylen Brown, the Timberwolves' front office had more confidence in how LaMelo Ball would fit after joining the team. During the negotiations, the Celtics' asking price was too high, and the Timberwolves ultimately decided that paying such a price for Jaylen Brown was not worthwhile."

The Celtics ultimately did not send Jaylen Brown to the Timberwolves. Instead, they completed a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, sending Brown away in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.

The Timberwolves kept Gobert before the start of the 202627 season and, through a four-team trade, sent Julius Randle to the Nets and Naz Reid to the Hornets, acquiring LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.