The worst-case Boston Celtics scenario is heavily believed to be possible according to ESPN 97.5 Houston’s John Granato — who is claiming that Jaylen Brown will want out of Boston and that there will be “a lot of noise” about such a thing happening.
“Yesterday, I got some insight into the rockets organization bringing in veterans,” Granato said. “They’re going to do that. I’m going to tell you this. You’re gonna hear a lot of noise about Jaylen Brown. He wants out of Boston. It’s the same as Harden. Daryl Morey thought Harden had star-level ability, which he did. There are guys in this rotation right now that are going to be bench players.”
According to Granato, the Rockets could specifically have an interest in teaming up Brown with his former head coach, fired Celtics HC Ime Udoka, since owner Tilman Fertitta “isn’t afraid” of hiring him. “They’re not satisfied,” Granato prefaced before saying, “I don’t think Tillman is going to be afraid of Ime Udoka.”
Jaylen Brown has ‘virtually no incentive’ to re-sign with Boston Celtics in 2023 offseason without supermax on table
If Brown isn’t dealt during the 2023 offseason, the Boston Celtics may have to prepare for a full year of trade rumors involving the 26-year-old due to an uncertain contract status. NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg believes that Brown not being given All-NBA honors would mean that there’d be “virtually no incentive” to re-sign with the Cs.
“Brown has virtually no incentive to sign this summer without the supermax, as even with the increase to 140 percent, he would be eligible for a similarly structured extension from Boston regardless of award status when he reaches unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024,” Forsberg wrote.
While the idea of Houston hiring Udoka, signing James Harden to a deal in free agency, and trading for Brown — and also adding a top draft prospect during the 2023 NBA draft — this offseason is tantalizing, the more likely scenario for Boston would be the world’s longest waiting game beginning as the clock ticks towards Brown’s 2024 free agency.