After the Boston Celtics shed a number of veterans from their former nucleus this summer including Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and Terry Rozier, their young wing tandem of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum immediately became the team’s core and future.
In fact, team owner Wyc Grousbeck already expressed his excitement towards building around Tatum and Brown along with veterans Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart for years to come. However, there may be a bit of a problem when Jaylen Brown enters restricted free agency next summer. In fact, Brown and the C’s can still agree to a contract extension before Oct. 21, but according to Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney, Brown likely won’t sign his deal in that time frame, and some even think the sides may never reach an extension.
According to a league source, “the chance is pretty slim” that Brown signs a long-term deal with the team in the coming month. Around the league, the expectation is that Brown and the Celtics won’t come to a deal.
Brown would still be under contract for this season, at $6.5 million (that would be the case even with the extension). He would become a restricted free agent next summer, which means Boston would still control his rights and be able to match any contract offer he received.
Through his first three professional years, Brown has shown flashes of superstar potential in spurts but also struggles with his consistency at times. The Cal product is a supreme athlete with solid offensive abilities, but his jumper often comes and goes and his role with Boston fluctuates quite often.
After starting 70 games in 2017, Brown only started 25 in 2018, though a lot of that had to do with the return of Gordon Hayward. If Brown and the Celtics don’t think they have a future together, there will be no shortage of teams across the league clamoring for his services next summer.
