One NBA writer has urged the Boston Celtics to trade All-Star small forward Jaylen Brown this offseason.
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report believes the Celtics should move on from Brown.
“Because he just made All-NBA, Jaylen Brown is eligible for a gargantuan five-year, $285.6 million extension. Jayson Tatum is almost certainly going to be one year behind with a similarly jaw-dropping deal,” Bailey wrote. “And under the new collective bargaining agreement, which essentially introduces a hard cap in the form of its new ‘second apron,’ having two such contracts on the books is going to be incredibly onerous.
“You darn-near have to be sure you can win a title with those two guys. And while the Boston Celtics can maybe talk themselves into that, the prospect of turning Brown into more than one role player or some future assets should be on the table.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown & Boston Celtics Updates
Brown is eligible to sign a designated veteran extension with the Celtics this offseason. The star swingman averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season for Boston and has one year left on his contract. Brown will make $28.5 million next season and hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024 if the Cs don’t sign him to an extension.
The Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. Boston reached the NBA Finals last year but lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games. Brown and Jayson Tatum haven’t been able to lead the Celtics to the promised land, but Tatum doesn’t want to be separated from Brown.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown & Boston Celtics Updates
“It’s extremely important,” Tatum said after the Celtics lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. “He’s one of the best players in this league. He plays both ends of the ball and still is relatively young. And he’s accomplished a lot so far in his career. So I think it’s extremely important.”
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