Jaylen Brown appears noncommittal on re-signing with the Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown has been a lynchpin to the Boston Celtics’ core since he was the No. 3 overall selection of the 2016 NBA Draft, along with superstar forward Jayson Tatum and defensive-minded guard Marcus Smart, among others.
Despite being lumped into trade talk since the start of his career, the two-time All-Star has spent his entire career in Boston. He’s continued developing into one of the premier wings across the Association, and is currently having the best statistical season of his career for one of the best teams in the NBA. But could Brown’s future in Boston possibly be in flux?
In an interview with NBA reporter Logan Murdock of The Ringer, Brown appeared noncommittal about his future with the Celtics:
“I don’t know. As long as I’m needed. It’s not up to me,” Brown said. “We’ll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where I’m wanted. I will stay where I’m needed and treated correct.
“I just enjoy the time that you have now,” he said. “If it’s your whole career, it’s your whole career. If it’s not, it’s not. Some of the greatest players of all time haven’t finished with their organization. Michael Jordan retired a Wizard. As much as we like it here and enjoy being here, you see where life takes you. You see how the process goes. All you do is really focus on what’s in front of you right now, to be honest. But I don’t really know or want to answer that question because that type of stuff makes Celtics fans speculate and go crazy. Especially right now, I’ll just say we’ll get there when we get there.”
Full quotes here.
The most recent trade rumors that Brown’s name has surfaced was in the offseason for Kevin Durant, who requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, when it was leaked that Brown was offered as part of a package for the 34-year-old superstar. The rumors were quickly downplayed, but surfaced nonetheless.
“Brad (Stevens) reached out to me to let me know it was just rumors and he just wanted to try clear up whatever that was floating around,” Brown said in mid-February. “I didn’t really pay too much attention to it, so I didn’t really know what he was talking about when he messaged me, but Brad was the first one to reach out to make sure that nothing was going on, or to just give me the space to talk about it if I had any feelings toward anything. I appreciate that from our organization.”
Brown has one more year left on his deal after this one, so he won’t be a free agent until after 2024. He’s averaging 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals on 49.0 percent shooting, including 34.0 percent from 3-point range and 77.2 percent from the free-throw line.
He signed a four-year, $106.3 million rookie contract extension before the 2019-20 season with a possible $12 million in incentivez, per Spotrac. He’s on the books for $28.7 million this season and $30.7 million in 2023-24.
If Brown makes an All-NBA team this year, he’d be eligible for a five-year supermax extension this upcoming offseason, which is worth up to 35 percent of the salary cap. Assuming the projected salary cap remains at $143 million for 2024-25, the five-year supermax could be worth up to approximately $290 million, beginning at $50.5 million in 2024-25.
Brown could rightfully sign the supermax — assuming he makes an All-NBA team — with this being a complete nonstory. But he’s rightfully keeping an open mind and weighing his options.
Right now, the Celtics are looking to make their second consecutive NBA Finals with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers possibly standing in their path. If they do reach it, it will in-part because of Brown. He’s likely a player that Stevens and Co. will try to and should do everything in their power to keep long-term, but crazier things have happened within this Association.
It’s impossible to rule any outcome out, at this point.
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