Goodbye Brown! Epic 2-for-4 trading plan, Rockets bet on FMVP, defending champions get rid of 200 million burden

Editor|Lao Kankanqiu

Recently, the famous NBA US media reporter Bill Simmons threw out a major trading plan, which instantly caused heated discussions across the Internet. Among them, the Rockets broke up the young assets in the team and strengthened the shortcomings in the championship. The defending champion Celtics got rid of their salary burden and alleviated the pressure of huge luxury taxes. Behind the seemingly win-win situation, it has caused huge controversy. What are the pros and cons of this "epic 2-for-4 trading plan"?

1. Transaction background: The Celtics' salary explodes, and the Rockets are eager to change. After winning the championship last season, in order to retain all the championship team, the Celtics spent a lot of money to give Holiday and Kobe White 3,000+ maximum salary contracts, and then reached a five-year, 280 million US dollars super maximum salary contract with Jaylen Brown in NBA history. Coupled with the scattered salary of role players, the total salary of the Celtics has soared to US$231 million this season, with luxury taxes as high as 263 million, far exceeding the league's second luxury tax line.

, accompanied by Tatum's second round serious injury (ligament rupture, recovery period of 8-12 months), he will be directly reimbursed next season, which further exacerbated the team's crisis. Holiday (35 years old, annual salary of 30 million+) deteriorated both ends of offense and defense this season, and the Celtics basically bid farewell to the championship ranks next season. Therefore, facing the punishment of surpassing the second rich line for three consecutive years and the sharp decline in the team's strength, reconstruction may be one of the few ways out for the Celtics.

2. Rockets' ambition and bargaining chips

For the Rockets this season, young core members Shin Kyung, Jaylen Green, Amen Thompson and others ushered in transformation, winning 52 wins and 30 losses in the regular season, ranking second in the West, and have risen strongly. However, the playoffs against the Warriors also exposed the team's big problems. Although there are many core players, there are lack of key big-hearted players who can lead the team to break the ice.

Therefore, if the Rockets want to go further in the playoffs, the offseason that is placed before the management level is to trade to strengthen a superstar. Of course, the Rockets have enough bargaining chips. Not to mention potential new stars such as Ethan, Green, and Smith, they also have one of the best first-round picks in the league to trade, and the bargaining chips are attractive enough.

2. The Rockets bet on the "double stars", the Celtics get rid of their burden + hoard the future

The specific trading plan is as follows:

Rockets get: Jaylen Brown and Ju Holiday;

The Celtics get: Van Vleet, Jabary Smith, Tari Ethan and the 10th pick in the first round of 2025.

Obviously, for the Rockets, they want to quickly strengthen the puzzle of championship competition. Jaylen Brown (27 years old) averaged 23.5 points + 5.3 rebounds + 3.5 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 71% at critical moments, which can be said to be an absolute superstar; Holiday (34 years old) is a defensive gate, which can fill the Rockets' wing defensive shortcomings.

Of course, the disadvantages are also very obvious. Jaylen Brown and Holiday will pay nearly $87 million next season. If the Rockets get two, their salary space will be completely locked.

For the Celtics, after sending off Brown and Holiday, the Celtics can save at least $20 million, and the team's salary pressure has dropped sharply, making room for reconstruction. In addition, the growth of Ethan and Smith Jr. is definitely worth looking forward to. Smith is 2.08 meters tall and has an arm span of 7 feet 1 inch. He is regarded as the "three leaders" of a qualified team. Ethan's rebounding and defensive efficiency are also visible to the naked eye.

3. Media and experts evaluate: Double doubts?

US media Space City Scoop gave the transaction rating of this plan: Celtics B+, Rockets C-, they believe that the cost of breaking up the championship team far exceeds the reward.

Rockets fans believe that Jaylen Brown is "not worthy of potential players + first round picks", and Holiday is negative;

Celtics fans believe that Jaylen Brown, as a FMVP, has a transaction value far exceeding the current plan, which is simply a robbery.

What do you think about the epic 2-for-4 trading plan predicted by the US media? Welcome to leave a message and express your opinions.