One NBA writer believes the Houston Rockets should trade for Boston Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown this offseason.
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report thinks Brown in Houston makes a lot of sense since the Rockets hired former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka.
“If Boston comes to the decision that Brown isn’t worth the supermax for which he’s now eligible, it might have to move him,” Bailey wrote. “And the Houston Rockets have former Celtics coach Ime Udoka and enough cap space to land the All-NBA wing. In the Spring, Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer listed Brown as a potential target of the Rockets.”
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 in 2022-23 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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics & Houston Rockets Updates
The Rockets have over $60 million in cap space this offseason. They also have the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
“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 & Houston Rockets Updates
If the Celtics don’t offer Brown the supermax extension, would he request a trade and possibly look to reunite with Udoka in Houston? Only time will tell.
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