{"id":196712,"date":"2026-05-23T07:44:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=196712"},"modified":"2026-05-23T07:44:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:44:46","slug":"jaylen-brown-save-kings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/23\/jaylen-brown-save-kings\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Jaylen Brown Save The Sacramento Kings?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Across the NBA, front offices are wishing upon an Eastern Conference star, wondering whether Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> or Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown<\/a> will become available after what were two decidedly different regular season campaigns.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP, has been worn down by his team’s doomed roster decisions. Ironically, the Bucks have actually been trying to help the Greek Freak win another championship. However, though moves like trading Jrue Holiday<\/a> for Damian Lillard<\/a> or Khris Middleton<\/a> for Kyle Kuzma<\/a> were made in good faith, they turned out to be disastrous. Thus, Antetokounmpo’s confidence in the Bucks has been weathered, if not eroded<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brown, who won NBA Finals MVP (and Eastern Conference Finals MVP) back in 2024, was given an opportunity he hasn’t had his entire career. With co-star Jayson Tatum<\/a> needing months to recover from a torn Achilles, Brown became the Celtics’ first option on offense. Not for one game, or for one month, but for the entire season. Tatum’s late-season return predictably threw a wrench in the plan<\/a> for him to win regular season MVP though. Though Boston has had tremendous success with the Brown-Tatum duo, it’s quite possible that Brown has outgrown his Robin role.<\/p>\n

The Kings Need To Get In On The Jaylen Brown Trade Talks<\/h2>\n

As long as Tatum is on the roster, Brown likely won’t become Boston’s focal point. The fact of the matter is that the Celtics have long since settled on propping Tatum up as the face of the franchise and as their best player. Of course, Brown and Tatum will say that everything between them is fine. However, human nature suggests that there’s much that’s been unspoken<\/a>, especially among two individuals in an inherently competitive sport and league.<\/p>\n

Knowing this, there are multiple franchises that should try to pry Brown out of Beantown.<\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Among those in need of a high-octane two-way All-Star, the Sacramento Kings stick out like a sore thumb.<\/p>\n

Sacramento Has Stars, What They Need Is A Sun<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the 2025-26 season, the Kings’ personnel did include several players who have been named an All-Star at least twice. Russell Westbrook<\/a>, a nine-time All-Star and 2017 NBA MVP, had the most accomplished career among them. DeMar DeRozan<\/a>, a six-time All-Star and top-20 in career points, has also been pretty successful. A three-time All-Star, Domantas Sabonis<\/a> is the player his father (Arvydas Sabonis<\/a>) dreamed of being. A two-time All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk Champion, Zach LaVine<\/a> has become one of the most recognizable names among NBA fans.<\/p>\n

Amazingly, despite this quartet having 20 All-Star selections between them, none of them managed to average 20+ points per game in 2025-26. Due to suboptimal age, agility or effort (which aren’t mutually exclusive), they’re all untrustworthy defenders too. As a result, Sacramento recorded a 22-60 record, their win percentage (.268) the fourth-worst in franchise history. Since 1960, the only personnel the Kings had that performed worse was their 2008-09 roster, Sacramento going 17-65 while led by Kevin Martin<\/a> and John Salmons<\/a> (who both played under 55 games).<\/p>\n

So, it suffices to say that the Kings are in need of a serious upgrade. Of course, with the seventh overall pick<\/a> in the 2026 NBA Draft and a few fascinating young players, they could just try to rebuild organically. However, their veteran-laden roster is full of stars, just ones that need to orbit around one that’s burning much brighter.<\/p>\n

Why can’t their sun be Brown, who averaged 28.7 points per game in 2025-26 and has long been regarded as one of the league’s top perimeter defenders?<\/p>\n

Making The Trade<\/h3>\n

If Brown is traded to the Kings, these are the most feasible parameters: Brown and a 2030 first-round pick are sent to Sacramento in exchange for LaVine, Maxime Raynaud<\/a>, Devin Carter<\/a> and the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Plug & Play -> Put On The Hook -> Take Off The Books<\/h4>\n

Though he holds a career scoring average of 20.7 points per game, there’s no guarantee that Boston would keep LaVine long-term.<\/p>\n

The two-time Slam Dunk winner is an aerial artist with a soft shooting stroke, but his reputation precedes him on the defensive end. If Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes that he’ll be too much of a liability, he could be headed out the door, and quickly. Even if he improves, he could suffer the same fate as impending free agent Anfernee Simons<\/a>, who Boston moved at the trade deadline<\/a>. As if that wasn’t enough, LaVine will be in the final season of his contract. As with any player, that inherently increases the chances of him being trade bait.<\/p>\n