The Boston Celtics are expected to sign small forward Jaylen Brown to the supermax extension this offseason, according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
The Celtics will not pursue a trade for Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal despite the All-Star being very close friends with Boston superstar Jayson Tatum.
“My feel from talking to sources is that the Celtics are not necessarily in on this one,” Windhorst said. “Their intention is to get Jaylen Brown on a contract extension this year. Even if they got Jaylen Brown done, the idea of bringing in Bradley Beal would be extraordinarily difficult because of the three contracts together.
“I don’t think any conversation that involves trading Jaylen Brown is something the Celtics are super interested in right now.”
Brown is eligible to sign a designated veteran extension with the Celtics this offseason because he made an All-NBA this past season. The star swingman averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 2022-23 for Boston.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown & Boston Celtics Updates
Brown has one year left on his current contract. The California product 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.
Tatum told reporters after the Miami Heat won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston that it’s very important for Brown to be back next season.
“It’s extremely important,” Tatum said. “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.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown & Boston Celtics Updates
When reporters asked Brown about his future following the Heat series, he said, “It’s hard to think about anything else right now, to be honest. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
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