For now, Jaylen Brown is a member of the Boston Celtics.
But how lengthy that remains the case is unclear after the 2024 NBA Finals MVP’s identify was talked about as being a part of Boston’s potential commerce supply to Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The supply for the Bucks’ star, which was reportedly Brown and a pair of first-round draft picks, wasn’t sufficient to beat Miami’s supply of 4 first-round picks, a second-round choose and a number of gamers, together with the 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro.
Following the primary spherical of the NBA draft on Tuesday, Boston president of basketball operations Brad Stevens declined to say how shut the workforce bought to executing a commerce for Brown. But he stated he nonetheless views Brown to be half the Celtics’ future. It’s why the workforce sat down with Brown just lately, who’s presently abroad.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us. I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as this is our team,” Stevens stated.
On Monday, earlier than Antetokounmpo was in the end dealt to the Heat, Brown posted a video on Twitch wherein he described his temper.
“To all the people that’s doubted me, that want me to do this, or want me, you’re turning me into a monster,” Brown stated.
It’s left an unsure temper across the Celtics group, simply two years faraway from profitable the franchise’s 18th NBA championship.
“There’s gonna be a lot of noise out there, that’s why you try to meet and be as up front as possible,” Stevens stated.
Why is Brown upset?
Brown has spoken in earlier years about how he is felt disrespected by each media and other people across the league for what he is achieved throughout his profession.
Though he took Eastern Conference finals and NBA Finals honors through the Celtics most up-to-date championship run, he was left off the United States 2024 Paris Olympics roster.
Then this season, with Jayson Tatum taking part in in simply 16 video games through the common season whereas he rehabbed from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Brown averaged profession highs in factors (28.7), rebounds (6.9) and assists (5.1) whereas ending sixth in MVP voting.
This can also be not the primary time that Brown’s identify has come about in commerce talks. He beforehand was rumored to be a part of a number of overtures for Kevin Durant, the newest being in 2022 earlier than Durant was in the end traded from Brooklyn to Phoenix.
What’s subsequent for the Celtics
That is also unknown. The basic perception is that Stevens had a contingency plan if the workforce’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo got here up empty.
The stakes are actually excessive heading into the NBA draft on Tuesday evening, which marks the unofficial begin of participant offseason motion.
Brown nonetheless has three seasons and about $182 million left on what was then a file, five-year, $304 million supermax deal he signed in 2023.
He’s eligible to signal a two-year extension to that deal price about $140 million on July 26.
That will inform rather a lot about keen the Celtics are to commit extra years for the 10-year veteran who can be 30 years previous when subsequent season begins.
In the meantime, Stevens says he needs to take care of an open line of communication with Brown.
“The noise surrounding all this, I get it,” Stevens stated. “What I hope to do is be up front and as reachable as possible throughout all that.”