Nearly two weeks have passed since Jaylen Brown became eligible for an extension, but Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens didn’t appear worried about the situation on Wednesday night, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Stevens explained that he’s limited in what he can reveal, but he indicated that talks are going well.
“It’s been all good discussion,” Stevens said. “We want Jaylen to be here for a long, long time and we’ve made that clear. We’re looking forward to all sitting down, and we’ve got time here. I probably shouldn’t say anything else, but I feel optimistic.”
There are no signs that Boston plans to offer Brown any less than the projected $295MM he’s eligible to receive in a five-year super-max contract, Himmelsbach states. He adds that the sides have until October to finalize an extension, and the delay seems to involve the incentive structure and the possibility of a fifth-year player option for Brown like the organization gave to Jayson Tatum.
There’s more on the Celtics, all from Himmelsbach:
- The team finalized a two-year, $60MM extension on Wednesday with Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired from the Wizards in a three-team deal last month. Stevens said Porzingis provides numerous options for the Celtics because of his versatility. “I just think we’re fortunate to do that, a guy that can play with either of our bigs and play as the lone big,” Stevens said. “I mean, that’s a big part of what we need to be moving forward, as far as we have a little bit more balance there in that group. He’s a good player and to have him here for a few years is obviously a good thing.”
- Stevens also provided a health update on Malcolm Brogdon, who was included in an early version of the Porzingis trade. The Clippers were originally going to acquire Brogdon, but they pulled out of the deal because they didn’t have time to review his medical records before Porzingis had to pick up his option. Stevens said Brogdon, who suffered a torn tendon in his right elbow during the Eastern Conference Finals, has been rehabbing the injury and is close to resuming basketball activities.
- Stevens acknowledged Grant Williams‘ contributions during his four years with the team, as a sign-and-trade with the Mavericks become official on Wednesday. “I do think it’ll be a good opportunity for him and it gives us some flexibility here as we move forward,” Stevens said. “But he did a good job. He’s a hard guy to lose.”
- Stevens indicated that more roster moves could be coming as the Williams trade creates an open spot, and Justin Champagnie and Luke Kornet both have non-guaranteed contracts. “I think we’ll try to add, obviously, a little bit,” Stevens said. “I’d like to get a little more depth, maybe on the wing, and then also maybe with a (power forward/small forward) type. I feel pretty good about our bigs. We’ve got a couple two-way (contract openings), so we’ve got some things we’re still very much looking at.”
Let’s just worry about the deal when it’s done. This is like going to a film set on day 12 of shooting and making judgements about the finished, totally produced movie. It’s a waste of time!
It’s simple. If they were going to sign him to the max, the deal would have been done. What’s to negotiate? Jaylen cant ask for more than the max. Other than a no trade clause, which is a simple yes or no, there is literally nothing else to discuss. So either they ain’t offering the max, or Jaylen doesn’t want to play in racist Boston.
Agreed. I hear the chatter “they might not want to give a max to a no2 guys”. Considering how good JT/JB have been the past two years together I just don’t get it. I don’t remember GS taking their time on giving Klay and Steph maxes.
You’ve just come off back to back deep play off runs and made a big move for KP and kept most of the team to run it again. One of two things may be going on. Either they’re planning a trade, or Brown wants out to be the main guy somewhere else.
Didnt Brad Stevens actually have a press conference where he stated he wants Jaylen and will pay the max?
Brown does not want the highest contract in NBA history? He is willing to give up $$$$ to be the man?
They are going to trade Brown for whom?
Who could the Celtics get back that would match salaries and be the kind of all star they would want?
Kyrie did a presser saying he was committed to Boston too… it wouldn’t be the first time someone says one thing then does another. But I do think he is worth and deserves the max so I hope he gets it. It won’t turn sour, he’s too good.
And it wouldn’t surprise me if he was willing to accept less to be the centre of attention in another market. Can’t be fun being in Tatums shadow.
With regards to who to trade for it could really be anyone. It’s not impossible to either asset grab on a rising star or two and save money. Or package for Dame, BI, PG13, Young etc. If a player they want is quietly available they can make it work.
Like I said they’re either messing about on the contract, he wants out, or they have their eye on someone else. I doubt it’s “all is good, just negotiating” it’s taken too long, he should be a no brainier priority for another push for them.
Jaylen Brown wants to be the main guy elsewhere? Jaylen Brown is no dummy & until he develops further — stops getting stripped on his drives, shoots a higher overall % overall & from the line & from three & until he plays less ISO ball, he’s not leading any team to a title. Boston is perfect for now.
As I said Jaylen is a smart man & a modern man using his platform for the good of his race & right now he’s got leverage & is using it. Watching what just happened to Marcus & Grant he’s likely demanding a no-trade contract unless he approves a trade.
As for racist Boston, doesn’t it make sense that going elsewhere, like in any red state, it would be a lot more racist & wouldn’t make any sense to Jaylen?
Go Celtics!
They can build in incentives, have an option player or team, etc… There are a lot of things that can be negotiated. They also don’t have to offer the full max either.
If they don’t offer a full max like they should Brown will sign then demand a trade and Tatum will do the same shortly thereafter. By not giving Brown a full max it sends a message to Tatum that Boston is willing to quibble about a few million dollars and let that get in the way of a championship caliber team. They already did that with G. Williams but Brown would be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I think Kornet’s a lock to stay. Stevens obviously likes him and you can plug him in for short minutes and he doesn’t hurt you.
Jay Scrubb is a bucket in Summer League, he probably gets a 2 way.
Brown should be asking for everything under the Sun, trade kicker, early termination option, no trade clause, everything. Doesn’t mean he will or should get those things but he has more leverage here than these biased team-centric stories convey.
He’ll be the top UFA next summer, much younger than the alternatives, likelier to change teams than the others and less injury issues than the other, older options. With the cap continuing to go up, no reason for him to sign anything less than the max.
Celtics can pay him way more money than any other team… that is their leverage.
He could just become a UFA, but he would lose a lot of money…so that is probably not as great an option as you might think. Plus who has cap space? The Magic? great!!!!
Honestly, given the way the Magic’s core has developed and the desire for a top-flight SG, they make sense as a destination. Not this year, but soon. Pairing him with guys like Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr.? Sounds like a good bet to perform to me. All they need is a solid PG and they’re set.
So all they need is a top flight starting backcourt, then. Sounds pretty easy to me.
“Solid PG” isn’t the same as “top-flight PG”, but okay. And it’s not like they lack the assets to trade for one. Even if you just added Brown to their current roster they’d be better than the Eastern play-in teams.
So ECFs to the Magic for less than max money…just to play in Orlando and not make the playoffs…
Ok, sounds good.
So you would rather play for less than max with Paolo Banchero than make max money and play with Jason Tatum?
Again, sounds good.
Do you know what a sign and trade is? Plenty of teams would love a Jaylen Brown for the max if the Celtics want to lowball him.
Cannot S&T a max deal extension. So no. Brown either signs for the max, a negotiated deal (omg that is what they are doing..right?) or he walks as a UFA next season.
I can tell you for a fact that when it comes to the new CBA any contract over 3 years becomes highly prohibitive to the issuing team. Boston is looking at a double barrel shotgun if they aren’t careful here.
How to figure in the set 10 percent increase in the cap against pay that in Boston case has to be staggered across two players is the hold up.
Jaylen doing what LeBron did in Cleveland is Bostons best option for flexibility.
2 years with a player option for the third is Bostons best bet for Jaylen and Jason and then just rollover into the increases from there.
“…the delay seems to involve the incentive structure…”
If they give a guy a max contract, can they even offer incentives? If he hits them, he’d be going over the max. Does the CBA allow for that?
No, if there are incentives, the base salary would be below the max and the incentives would push it up to the max.
Himmelsbach’s suggestion that the Celtics are offering the full max AND there may be incentives seems somewhat contradictory, but if the incentives are considered “likely” to be earned (ie. Brown would have earned them last season), his cap hits would still be worth the full max.
They don’t care about Smart or Williams. They want picks more. F loyalty. Picks are more important
Boston needs point guard! Not just the magic
Does Brown want to be the 2 or # 1 for 18 other teams. We shall see. He a a smart young man he will make the right choice and stay with the Celtics!
Seems like the “vocal” ones got jettisoned!
He’ll be in a Jazz uniform within 3 weeks