Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
From the moment the Boston Celtics season came to an abrupt end, Jaylen Brown’s future with the franchise has been a talking point.
Brown, 29, is coming off the best season of his career. He thrived as the primary offensive option within Joe Mazzulla’s rotation. Furthermore, he proved himself as a leader within the locker room.
Yet, Brown’s comments about the season being his favorite didn’t go down well. After all, he’s won a championship in Boston, and this past season just so happened to be without Jayson Tatum, who was out (for most of it) with an Achilles injury. Thus, the trade speculation.
During a recent livestream on his Twitch channel, Brown discussed his plans for the offseason. However, some of his comments could also be construed as a reminder that he’s still got room to improve.
“I will continue to get better…I’m coming into my prime. My mind, my body, my athleticism are all coming together. I’m excited to see what I can do and where I can go with it. I don’t think I’ve reached my limit yet,” Brown said.
Considering Brown has been the center of so much speculation, the fact that he’s still got room to develop should be a reminder. Not only to Boston, but to any team willing to trade for him. Acquire Brown, and you’re getting an elite talent who believes there’s still another gear.
Jaylen Brown Also Reacted To All-NBA First Team
Despite his stellar season, that saw him floated in MVP discussions, Brown missed out on making the All-NBA First Team. Instead, he was selected to the second team. During his livestream, Brown shared his thoughts on being left out of the top-five selection.
“I’m going to be honest, I’m not surprised,” Brown said. “I’m not the most liked player in the media. At times, I’m not the most liked by the fans, so I’m not surprised. Some of the things I say and do is a little controversial. So, I’m surprised that I win any awards at all at times. I’m not on the first team, but hey, shoutout to those who made the first team.”
Brown certainly played well enough to deserve a spot on the All-NBA First Team. However, the league is full of exceptional talents, so it’s also understandable why he didn’t make the cut.
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Due Contract Extension
Another reason why Brown’s future in Boston has been a talking point, is because he’s due a contract extension. The explosive forward, who is entering the third year of his $285.3 million Supermax contact, is eligible for a two-year extension worth $141.9 million.
The catch is that the extension wouldn’t kick in until 2029. Brown will be 32 years old by then. Brad Stevens must decide if he wants to commit north of $70 million to a player who will undoubtedly change between now and the time the extension kicks in.
If Boston opts against offering the extension, could that lead to Brown becoming disgruntled? Would he want out? We don’t have the answers to those questions. However, it’s easy to understand why so many fans are preparing for the fact this might be his last summer with the franchise.
Adam Taylor is a basketball reporter covering the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Miami Heat for Heavy. He holds bylines for CelticsBlog, USA Today and Yardbarker. Adam also covers the WWE and AEW. He has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Open University. More about Adam Taylor