Celtics wing Jaylen Brown is under contract through the 2023/24 season, meaning he could reach unrestricted free agency in a little over 15 months. Asked by Logan Murdock of The Ringer if he wants to remain in Boston for the long time, Brown didn’t exactly commit one way or the other.
“I don’t know. As long as I’m needed. It’s not up to me,” Brown said. “We’ll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where I’m wanted. I will stay where I’m needed and treated correct.”
Brown would be eligible to sign a contract extension anytime during the 2023/24 league year, starting in July. However, because he’s earning well below his maximum salary and would be limited to a 20% raise in the first year of a veteran extension, the Celtics wouldn’t be able to offer him a maximum-salary deal until free agency.
That would change if Brown earns a spot on an All-NBA team this spring, in which case he’d become eligible for a super-max contract extension (worth 35% of the 2024/25 cap) entering the final year of his current deal.
Still, it doesn’t sound as if Brown is thinking too much about all of his potential contract options quite yet. As Murdock notes, the 26-year-old kept the focus on the present rather than the future when asked how long he wants to play with star teammate Jayson Tatum.
“I just enjoy the time that you have now,” Brown said. “If it’s your whole career, it’s your whole career. If it’s not, it’s not. Some of the greatest players of all time haven’t finished with their organization. Michael Jordan retired a Wizard. As much as we like it here and enjoy being here, you see where life takes you. You see how the process goes. All you do is really focus on what’s in front of you right now, to be honest.
“But I don’t really know or want to answer that question because that type of stuff makes Celtics fans speculate and go crazy. Especially right now, I’ll just say we’ll get there when we get there.”
Whether or not Brown qualifies for a super-max contract, the Celtics will have the ability to offer him more years and more money than any rival suitor when he signs his next contract. So they remain in the driver’s seat to retain him beyond his current deal — and there’s no reason at this point to believe that they won’t want to do just that.
As for Brown, his noncommittal stance may simply be a pragmatic choice rather than an indication that he’s lukewarm on a future in Boston. His former teammate Kyrie Irving once publicly declared his plans to re-sign with the Celtics, then had a change of heart by the time his free agency arrived nine months later. It will be at least a few more months before Brown can sign a new contract, so there’s no reason to lock himself into a single path yet.
The fact that Brown has been at the center of trade speculation multiple times during his years in Boston may also make him wary about publicly committing to the franchise without a new contract in hand. According to Murdock, while Brown received assurances from the organization following Kevin Durant‘s trade request that he wouldn’t be moved, that “nearly endless cycle” of trade rumors over the years “has left some scars.”
future bull <3
Don’t give us hope. Lol
Future Blazer Jaylen Brown
This is a former team mate of Kyrie Irving…
He’s playing it smart…
Trade Idea
Rockets get Brown, White, Pritchard
Celtics get J Green, Smith and Porter Jr
Why for Celtics?
Tax free
Why for Rockets
Get better
Draft Henderson
Sign Grant Williams
Delete your account
Seems like a really flaky teammate ngl…
Nah he just knows NBA teams aren’t loyal so why should he be.
Isiah Thomas will alway remember.
Especially with all the trade rumors over the years …
There’s no point to even talk about really, with a full season to go after this..except internally if there’s mutual interest in an extension.
Besides Kyrie, there are plenty of examples around the league of guys who said they wanted to stay/be wherever and changed their mind quickly.
Once the Celtics don’t win the Eastern Conference this year, it will be time to realize that a Tatum/Brown pairing doesn’t work any more. I would keep Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon forever, and trade Brown.
What doesn’t work about their pairing? Which part of the Celtics recent failings can be attributed to Brown and Tatum not meshing?
Buddy it’s 2023 stop listening to Boston sports radio from like 3 years ago lol the Jay’s can’t play together cumawnn
He doesn’t know.
Brown wants to be the man aka numero uno.
And?
Celtics are 11-7 when Brown scores more than 30 points. Celtics are 10-3 this year when Brown doesn’t play. Brown is a terrible ball handler and takes too many bad shots. Brown is a poor passer. I understand that the organization is a big part of the problem by always putting him into trade speculation. But he needs to show that he is a team first player.
Notice that I said nothing negative about Tatum. He has worked really hard to improve his passing and teamwork. He is the star of the team, and still looks to include his teammates every chance he gets.
Your original point was that the pairing doesn’t work. Now you’re just complaining about Brown’s play i.e. you could make these same points regardless of what team he’s on.
Still have a hard time buying that Jaylen Brown is the cause of the Celtics problems. He’s a great player. Not a hot take.
Translation.
Reporter “Jaylen, are you going to resign with the Celtics”?
Brown “If they pay me.”
Total non story.
Exactly
Brown will walk. Then call Boston racist.
Jaylen Brown is a terrific player, who works to get better every new season, meshes well w Jason Tatum & our team & I hope both stay with the Celtics for their whole careers.
Jaylen is the classic, modern-day role model for all athletes, anyone really, coming after him. He’s using his platform for good! An example for us all to strive for. Go Celtics!