An NBA executive believes Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown would be out of his mind if he chose to test his value in 2024 NBA free agency or asked for a trade from the team after this season.
Heading into the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics were viewed as a favorite to reach the finals and finish what they started last season. The team seemed like even more of a lock to get to the championship series when the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks were shockingly eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Related: NBA power rankings – Ranking every team at the end of the ’22-’23 regular season
However, getting back to the NBA Finals for a second straight season is no longer a forgone conclusion after their Game 5 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. Now, the Boston Celtics are on the brink of being sent home far earlier than most expected on Thursday night.
If the team were to fall well short of their championship goals in 2023 it might intensify the building rumors that Jaylen Brown may prefer a future outside of Boston when he is available to test free agency next summer. There are even some who believe he could ask for a trade before then.
Boston Celtics record (’22-’23): 57-25
Yet, doing so could mean passing up on a huge financial windfall for the 26-year-old talent. On Wednesday it was announced that Jaylen Brown was a member of the All-NBA first team for this season. In achieving that honor, he also checked off a major contractual goal that would make him eligible for a five-year, $290 million contract extension this summer that would begin in 2024.
- Jaylen Brown stats (’22-’23):26.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 34% 3PT
Bypassing such an opportunity would mean avoiding the chance to be one of the highest-paid players in the sport. It is a rare chance, and on Thursday an anonymous NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy.com that the two-time All-Star would be absolutely “crazy” not to take that deal if it is offered by the Boston Celtics.
“Well, he would be crazy to pass on what Boston can give him. They will have to go all in and he is going to have to take it. You can’t turn down what is going to wind up being $60 million a year. Maybe he’s happy in Boston, maybe not, but if you’re Jaylen Brown and you have the opportunity to be the highest-paid player in the league, you’re damn right you take it.”
– Anonymous NBA executive
That will be a question for July because the Boston Celtics will be looking to extend their series to seven games when they face the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.