NBA Rumors: Western Conference team expected to pursue Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown still has some time before he becomes a free agent, but some teams already have them on their radar. Recent reports cited that one surprising Western Conference will likely pursue him.
Jaylen Brown, 26, is in the midst of his best season as a pro. He is averaging a career high in points (26.7), along with 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
While Brown is sure to have more than a handful of suitors in free agency, among the teams interested in signing him is the Houston Rockets. They currently have the NBA's second-worst record at 19-60.
Brown's current contract runs through the 2023-24 season. After that, he will hit unrestricted free agency. While discussing his future during a recent interview, the former No. 3 pick hinted that he could be open to leaving the Boston Celtics.
His reasoning being that many of the greatest players in history didn't end their careers with the team they started with.
Does it make sense for Jaylen Brown to go to the Houston Rockets?
Since joining the Boston Celtics in 2016, Jaylen Brown has been part of one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. He's been part of multiple deep playoff runs and played in his first NBA Finals last year. That being said, the ability to contend is sure to be a factor when he hits the open market in the summer of 2024.
The Houston Rockets might want to bring in Jaylen Brown, but they might not be an enticing destination for him. Their roster is filled with promising young talent, but they haven't shown the results that warrant bringing in a star. It's also worth noting that Brown's timeline doesn't match up with the likes of Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr.
After being one of the NBA's worst teams the past two years, it seems like Houston wants to shake things up in regards to their rebuild. Along with this recent rumor of targeting Brown, the team has also been connected to James Harden all season.
If Harden does decide to go back to Houston, going after someone like Brown could make more sense. The former MVP is more of a facilitator at this point of his career and could elevate the young forward as he enters his prime.
There is no denying that the Rockets have talent that could blossom down the road. With that in mind, the organization might feel a player like Brown could spark this group to take a step forward in becoming a more competitive group.