The Portland Trail Blazers are widely regarded as the team most aggressively pursuing Boston Celtics All-NBA guard Jaylen Brown, according to league conversations detailed by reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
Portland’s Ongoing Interest
Stein and Fischer note that Portland’s pursuit of Brown predates the franchise’s previous era with Damian Lillard and has intensified after missing out on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wizards big man Anthony Davis has been mentioned as a fallback option for the Blazers, but Brown remains the organization’s top target.
Houston’s Shifting Focus
The Houston Rockets, once listed among possible destinations for Brown, have not held recent discussions with Boston and are no longer expected to chase the 27-year-old wing. Instead, Houston is monitoring Marcus Smart, who could enter free agency if he declines his $5.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Rockets are also testing the trade market for veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith. The 30-year-old, coming off ankle surgery, has three seasons and $40 million left on his deal, though only $13.34 million is guaranteed in 2026-27.
Free-Agent and Trade Notes Around the League
- The Rockets hope to re-sign restricted free agent Tari Eason, while the Denver Nuggets remain optimistic about retaining Peyton Watson. Sources believe the Los Angeles Clippers could pursue Watson if they opt to operate under the salary cap, but Denver may only hesitate if offers reach roughly $30 million annually.
- The Atlanta Hawks continue to seek frontcourt depth and weighed a run at Isaiah Hartenstein before the center reached a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Myles Turner has attracted outside interest, yet the Milwaukee Bucks are not currently engaged in active trade talks involving their starting center.
- The Thunder will receive Minnesota’s 2030 second-round pick and Detroit’s 2031 second-round pick from the Pistons in the Isaiah Joe trade. Detroit’s acquisition of Joe reduces—though does not eliminate—its need to target additional shooting such as Norman Powell or Tyler Herro.
- With the New Orleans Pelicans declining their team option on Kevon Looney, league sources indicate the New York Knicks could view the veteran big man as a replacement for the expected free-agent departure of Mitchell Robinson. Knicks head coach Mike Brown worked with Looney during their shared tenure with the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2022.
These developments underscore an increasingly active market ahead of the 2026 NBA offseason, with multiple teams positioning themselves for significant roster moves.
Source: Hoops Rumors
