NBA legend Tracy McGrady believes Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown deserved his new supermax contract since “that’s the state of the NBA.”
McGrady thinks NBA teams have to pay their best players a lot of money to keep them.
“I mean, that’s the state of the NBA,” McGrady said on The Herd With Colin Cowherd. “You can’t hate on it. That’s just where we are. He’s well deserved of getting that contract based off of how he played over these last few years, how he played last year. He’s well deserved of that. So shout out to him man for getting five years at $304 million.
“But that’s just the state of the NBA. It’s top-heavy right now. So if you wanted those top-tier players for your team, that’s what you’re gonna get paid.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jaylen Brown, Tracy McGrady & Boston Celtics Updates
Brown signed a five-year, $304 million supermax extension. It’s the richest contract in NBA history. Brown averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 2022-23 for the Celtics while shooting 49.1% from the field, 33.5% from beyond the arc and 76.5% from the free-throw line. He was eligible to sign a designated veteran extension because he made an All-NBA team last season.
Brown is slated to make $52.3 million when the contract kicks in during the 2024-25 season and $69.1 million in 2028-29, the final year of the deal. He was not eligible for a no-trade clause because he signed an extension.
Jayson Tatum told NBA reporters after the Miami Heat won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston that it was “extremely important” for Brown to be back next season. Tatum and Brown are close friends.
“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.”
Boston will look different next season after trading Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards. The Celtics’ new Big 3 of Brown, Tatum and Porzingis will look to lead the franchise to title No. 18.
The Celtics have made the playoffs in each of Brown’s seven NBA seasons, including the NBA Finals in 2022 and three Eastern Conference Finals trips. Boston drafted Brown with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jaylen Brown, Tracy McGrady & Boston Celtics Updates
The 26-year-old Brown has career averages of 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists with the Celtics. It will be interesting to see if Boston wins a championship during the Brown-Tatum era.
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