When the Boston Celtics traded Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis and then committed to him long-term, some fans were left confused. Now weeks removed from the trade and with Jaylen Brown still not signed to an extension, the Porzingis move is starting to make more sense.
Ultimately, the real reason why the Celtics acquired Porzingis involves Brown and his current negotiations. The Cs are using Porzingis as both leverage and insurance against Brown.
All of the reporting that has transpired since the start of the offseason follows my line of thinking. The Boston Celtics have been toying with Brown all offseason, and it’s starting to make sense. The trade for Porzingis gave the Cs insurance in case Brown asks out. The insurance is important because it has allowed the Celtics to not have to overextend themselves at the negotiating table.
That's a team-friendly contract for Kristaps Porzingis. Very tradable deal down the road, if the #Celtics need/want to move a hefty salary.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) June 30, 2023
The leverage aspect is another important topic in this discussion because Porzingis gives the Celtics leverage over Brown. A key part of the Porzingis extension is that he left money on the table by taking less.
The decision was a huge win for the Celtics because it gives them leverage over Brown. The Celtics can easily tell Brown to take less to help the team win because Porzingis did. Boston has taken control of the media narrative, and it has negatively affected Brown.
If the #Celtics are willing to give Jaylen Brown the full supermax, they should NOT be offering a fifth-year player option. Bonus incentives are another story, but that should be a non-starter for Boston unless Brown's taking less than the 35% cap hit. https://t.co/bzSRXzvcVE
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) July 10, 2023
The Boston Celtics are painting Jaylen Brown in a negative light
The timing of the recent Brown reports is interesting because they are painting him to be a selfish guy. The new development has played right into the Celtics’ hands, as Brown pretty much has zero leverage. Brown will almost be forced to take whatever offer the Cs give him or risk being sent to a terrible franchise in a trade.
Ultimately, it will be interesting to see what happens with Brown and the Boston Celtics, but it’s important to note that Porzingis has played a big part in this saga.