When the Boston Celtics' pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo ended with the Milwaukee Bucks trading him to the Miami Heat, they expected to easily pivot to a Jaylen Brown trade path where they would receive considerable interest. But the Celtics have not found that to be the case when exploring his trade possibilities and have even resorted to making offers involving Brown instead of receiving them.

"When the pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo last week failed, the expectation was that the Celtics would have a bespoke trade conversation with Jaylen Brown, targeting a couple of teams where they like the possible trade. And it's not gone that way.

"The Celtics have ended up canvasing a large part of the league. In some cases, from what I am told, actually actively making offers involving Brown, not receiving offers. When you have a valuable asset, you usually sit back and receive. And that has left the impression that they're searching a little bit, as is the fact that they've been looking for large volumes of draft picks in return for Brown just days after looking for a superstar player.

"So, right now, I do think the Celtics are searching a little bit, and that has left some uncertainty. It has even raised the possibility that they would retreat totally and try to repair the relationship with Jaylen Brown."

A reconciliation between Brown and the Celtics would likely prove difficult, but his eligibility for a two-year, $141.8 million contract extension in July could make that a possibility.

"There's one way to do it, which would be to give him a contract extension next month and a huge amount of money," said Windhorst. "That said, I do not think that situation is over. I still think they're looking, and I still think he could be traded."

Based on the current marketplace, there does not appear to be any teams as desperate to acquire Brown as the Celtics were anticipating.

"There is not a natural fit," said Windhorst.